Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU)

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) is a nurse-run,
consultant-led unit located at Junction 5 within the York Teaching Hospital.

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 08:00 to 13:00

Contact us

Patients already under the care of the early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU) may contact the team through the following number: 01904 726489

Appointments

Reviews are by appointment only and we have capacity of up to 7 people per day.
While we aim to see you at your appointment time there may be a delay if an emergency comes up.

Referral Criteria

• To be referred to the early pregnancy unit you must have a positive pregnancy test and:
• A gestation (pregnancy) greater than 6+0 weeks and up to 16+0 weeks (based on last menstrual period or ultrasound scan)

and:

• Pelvic pain (which settles with rest/use of simple analgesics) and/or
• Mild or moderate bleeding

The unit does not take self-referrals or walk-ins, if you are not under the care of the EPAU, please contact your GP or other healthcare professional.

GPs, A&E and other health services may refer to this unit by contacting the early pregnancy assessment unit directly or via switchboard. 

What we do

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit is a nurse-run, Consultant led clinic. We see women who are referred by their GP or other doctors with symptoms of vaginal bleeding and/or pelvic pain in early pregnancy (between six and sixteen weeks).

When you first arrive please report to reception. You can bring up to one other person with you.  You will be seen and assessed by a Nurse and asked about your symptoms and past medical history.

You will be asked to produce a urine sample if you haven't brought one with you. This is so that we can perform a pregnancy test and check for markers of urine infection.

The nurse will then see you and refer you for a pelvic ultrasound scan in the unit if indicated. This scan is both external (through the stomach) and internal (through the vagina).

Once you have had your scan the nurse will see you with the result and inform you of further management.  This may include:

• doing further blood tests
• doing a further scan on another day at the unit
• to contact the unit for your blood results
• discharge you back to your GP
• Do a pregnancy test in a few weeks
• admitting you to our gynaecology ward for further investigation and/or treatment