The Emergency Gynaecology Assessment unit (GAU) is open 24 hours a day and provides emergency care for patients with gynaecological conditions. The unit is run by nursing staff and on-call Gynaecology doctors. The unit is based on the inpatient wards, Ward 1B at Pilgrim Hospital and Branston Ward at Lincoln Hospital; there is no Gynaecology assessment unit at Grantham Hospital.
On arrival to GAU, you will be seen by a member of the nursing team who will undertake an initial assessment, including observations of vital signs. They will then inform you of next steps. The nurse will inform the doctor and arrange for you to be reviewed.
Please be aware that GAU can be very busy at times, therefore, there can be delays in the nursing team attending you for initial assessment, but we aim to do this within 30 minutes. The doctors caring for you form part of the on-call Obstetrics and Gynaecology team, therefore, there may be a delay of up to 4 hours in reviewing you. The same staff running GAU also run the inpatient ward. However, we will aim to keep this time to a minimum; we would like to apologise in advance of any delays that may occur.
Referrals
Referrals can be made by the Emergency Department (ED), GP, Community Midwives, Out of Hours Service (OOH), Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and from Gynaecology Outpatient Clinics including the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU).
‘Self-referrals’ can be made if you have been given open access to the services.
If you have had any gynaecology surgery within the last 28 days, please contact the ward area where you had the surgery for advice and guidance regarding any unexpected or excessive post-operative side effects such as pain, vaginal bleeding, signs of infection or if you are having any difficulties emptying your bladder.
Patients who attend the GAU may include:
- Early pregnancy related conditions or complications
- Abnormal heavy vaginal bleeding
- Abnormal pregnancy symptoms up to 20 weeks
- Pain associated with gynaecological condition
- Red/swollen/painful lump on the vagina known as Bartholin’s cyst
- Abnormal fluid retention associated with gynaecological conditions requiring a paracentesis or drainage
- Ovarian hyper stimulation following fertility treatment
- Urgent complications associated with pessary use
- Difficulties emptying bladder associated with pregnancy before 20 weeks or post-surgery
Your care
The named consultant will be in charge of overseeing your care, however, you may be looked after by a team of doctors and nurses. If you have any questions relating to your care or condition, please do not hesitate to ask a member of the team who will resolve or escalate your concerns.
It may be likely that you meet and discuss your condition with several members of the team. You may need blood samples taking, a physical examination, which may include an intimate vaginal examination and other investigations including scans may be required. Please be aware that scans such as Ultrasound scans may not be available at the time of assessment, which may mean that you need to come back for a scan at a later date.
If you do not wish to have any of the examinations, please discuss this with the nurse or doctor looking after you.
We may not be able to offer you refreshments until you have seen the doctor and you have been assessed as able to eat and drink. Please let us know if you wish for refreshments or are concerned that you have a medical condition such as diabetes that may be affected by not eating for a period of time. We will endeavour to provide you with refreshments as soon as possible. In most cases it is ok to sip water, but please check with the nursing team first.
It may take a few days for some results to come back such as swabs, urine and some blood tests. If these test results require any treatment, then you will be contacted by telephone or letter, but if you are concerned, please contact us to discuss.
At times it may be necessary to repeat tests to build up a picture of your condition, however, we will endeavour to do only what is necessary to establish a diagnosis and plan of care.
If you are required to stay for observation overnight, you may be moved into a bed or bay area on Ward 1B or Branston Ward.
Chaperone
An intimate examination may be required, if this is necessary the presence of a chaperone will be provided.