Developing Hospital Environments
EPAU Appeal
Past Appeal
Thanks to charitable donations, we were able to create a more calm and comfortable space for women needing additional monitoring during their pregnancy, providing them with privacy and dignity during worrying times.
Supporting our women during difficult times
Our Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) supports over 8,000 patients every year and is used for a variety of treatments and services.
Some of our women may be seen at our EPAU as they need an ultrasound assessment because they’re experiencing pain or bleeding or because they have a history of ectopic or molar pregnancies. We also offer reassurance scans for those with recurrent miscarriages and provide support and care for patients dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Our women can be in the unit for hours while undergoing treatment. While the space was functional, it was very outdated and didn’t provide sufficient privacy for patients. We wanted to change that.
Transforming three key areas
With the money raised by the appeal, we focused on updating three key areas within the EPAU unit to make it a more pleasant place, reduce stress and support overall wellbeing.
Where we treat HG:
Rehydration treatment can take five hours on average. The room accommodates two patients at a time, but patients were seated on uncomfortable chairs next to each other and could see each other vomiting.
We improved the space by creating two cubicles and replacing the existing chairs with wider, more relaxing recliners, with a built-in, fold-down table. We also installed a television for each patient, along with entertainment systems and headphones, to provide some distraction during their treatment.
Where we have heartbreaking conversations:
Our team guides around 450 women and their partners through the devastating experience of miscarriage every year. The news was delivered in an outdated clinical room, but we transformed it to create a calming and relaxed environment. The sofas were replaced with comfortable ones and we introduced stylish wood-effect coffee tables and artwork, to create a more homely feel.
A multi-use clinic room:
We also created a multi-use clinic room, enabling our teams to see more patients during the day, to help reduce waiting times. It’s primarily used for patient consultations and taking bloods, however during busy periods we are able to quickly convert it into an examination and treatment room.
LED ceiling lights act as a distraction during appointments and specially designed examination couches make taking blood samples much easier.
Thanks to charitable donations, we have been able to make small changes to our EPAU unit, which deliver a big impact for our pregnant women and families, improving their overall experience while with us.
