Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU)

Acute Gynaecology Services

The Acute Gynaecology Unit offers a fast-track service for women experiencing pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Acute gynaecological presentations are managed with consultant-delivered rapid-access clinics five days per week, to offer an effective and efficient assessment of serious, but not life-threatening conditions.

Most patients will usually have an ultrasound scan of the pelvis in order to examine the womb and ovaries. Some patients may require further investigations and procedures such as biopsy samples from inside the womb, smear tests, swabs and blood tests to help in the diagnosis of their condition.

Patients should be referred to the service by their GP, Accident and Emergency departments or other health professionals.

We aim to ensure that most investigations are performed at the first visit to minimise the need for repeat hospital attendances and try to ensure that a diagnosis is made within a short time frame so we can begin an effective treatment plan.

Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU)

The EPAU provides an urgent care service for complications associated with early pregnancy, including the diagnosis and management of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies and other common early pregnancy-related problems. Our service is available for women who are in the early stages of pregnancy (up to 17 weeks) and are experiencing pain or bleeding. 

You will need to contact your GP, 111, out-of-hours GP service or A&E to refer you to us as we do not offer a walk-in service. You can only self-refer to us if you have had an ectopic or molar pregnancy, or 2 or more miscarriages in the past. Once we have a referral for you, we will triage you over the phone and arrange an appropriate appointment. 

We are a specialist team of gynaecology doctors, nurses, nursing assistants and sonographers. The  Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research  is also based here. 

The unit also has a hyperemesis day room, supporting women who suffer from excessive vomiting or ‘hyperemesis gravidarum’ with rapid fluid and medication infusion through intravenous access. We will treat each patient as a day case where possible so that you don’t need an overnight stay in hospital to get the same level of care to treat and manage your symptoms.

You can find us on the third floor of Birmingham Women's Hospital, Ward 6.