A UNIT which aims to help women facing pregnancy loss has treated more than 3,500 women in its first year.

The Gynaecology Assessment Unit at Warrington Hospital celebrated its first birthday on Tuesday following an extremely successful year caring for and treating women.

The unit is a specialist service for women with gynaecology emergencies and was opened to help ease pressures in A&E and offer women a more private and relaxed environment in particularly distressing times.

Some 3,650 patients, which on average is 70 a week, have been treated in the past year, with the unit receiving 100 per cent

positive feedback from patients.

The unit predominately looks after patients with early pregnancy complications and patients experiencing abdominal and pelvic pain or gynaecological problems and has helped women avoid long waits in A&E.

Joanne MacGlashan, ward manager for C20, has worked on the gynaecology unit for 20 years.

She said: "Because gynaecology is such a niche environment to do with women's health, they come in with rather complex and emotional issues.

"Sometimes their first point of call is A&E which can be very dramatic and serves the whole community on varied clinical issues.

"They are not set up to deal with some of the very sensitive reasons women come for immediate care.

"There are no private rooms, they don't have the equipment and so we have been trying to develop a direct address service attached to our own ward for a long time.

"Last year we managed to do this and so we can have one simple call from A&E triage to say 'we have this lady with these concerns, can she come directly to you' and then she spends very little time in A&E.

"The driving force to get this going last year was the impact it would have on women and their partners facing pregnancy loss."

Warrington Guardian:

The service is able to manage some conditions on an outpatient basis, rather than keep the patient in for treatment.

GAU is provided by consultant gynaecologists and obstetricians, specialist nurses and vital support from the team on C20.

The aim of the service is to provide efficient, specialist, compassionate care, within the women's health care unit.

Patients can be referred direct from their GP, midwife or if they do come to A&E or urgent care centre.

It has streamlined effective care and been responsive to women’s needs.

Women will be seen by a nurse within 30 minutes and the doctor within a maximum of two to three hours

Sian Edwards a trainee advance nurse practitioner has worked at the hospital for 18 years.

She said: "Eighty per cent of admissions are early pregnancy related and women need that support from specialist staff.

"We work closely with the early pregnancy clinic and also deal with post-operative complications.

"The unit has clinical lead support from consultants and from the managers, we all work together to see how we can take services forward but this has been a great success.

"The sofas and a more private waiting area creates a relaxed and quiet environment for women – with considerably shorter waiting times."

Future plans include the addition of a gynaecology advanced nurse practitioner, to work alongside the doctors and support the assessment and management of women attending the unit.