Telephone Triage Service – please call 0151 702 4140 (please note this line is not open 24/7)
The Gynaecology Emergency Department (GED) is a specialist emergency service for people who need urgent or emergency care for:
- A severe gynaecological problem (problems related to the female reproductive system) such as severe pelvic pain or heavy vaginal bleeding
- Early pregnancy problems (less than 18 weeks gestation), such as pain, bleeding or severe vomiting.
We are not a general A&E. If you have a problem that requires urgent or emergency care that is not related to gynaecology or pregnancy, please attend your nearest general A&E.
Opening hours and Directions
The GED is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is located on the ground floor of the main hospital building. Please ask for directions at the main reception when you arrive.
If you are NOT pregnant:
If you are not pregnant but have severe abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, you can attend the department if you feel your case is an emergency. If your concern is not an emergency you should call 111 for further advice or see your General Practitioner (GP) to be assessed and they can discuss your case with the on-call gynaecology team if required.
Please be advised that if you’re problem is not an emergency, you will be asked to see your GP or another community service. Patients who do not require urgent or emergency care will not be seen by our emergency service. This is to ensure that patients requiring emergency treatment can be prioritised.
If you ARE pregnant and LESS than 18 weeks gestation:
If you are less than 18 weeks pregnant and you have abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding or any other symptoms of urgent concern you should attend the Gynaecology Emergency Department for assessment.
If you ARE pregnant and MORE than 18 weeks gestation:
If you are above 18 weeks pregnant, please contact the Maternity Assessment Unit on 0151 702 4413.
If you have a gynaecological or early pregnancy emergency, the Gynaecology Emergency Department is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week for urgent walk-in attendance.
If your condition is life threatening, ring 999 for immediate assistance.
If you have an emergency or urgent condition that is NOT related to gynaecology or early pregnancy, you should attend your nearest accident and emergency department.
For all other non-emergencies you can ring 111 or for advice, attend a walk-in centre or contact your GP.
Patients attending the Gynaecology Emergency Department
The Gynaecology Emergency Department is located on the ground floor of the hospital.
Patients that attend our walk-in service will be seen by a gynaecology nurse on arrival. They will ask some questions, record your observations and perform some quick tests (such as a urine test).
If your problem is not an emergency or this is not the right service for you, we will ask you to see your GP or another community service. Patients who do not require urgent or emergency care will not be seen by our emergency service. This is to ensure that patients requiring emergency treatment can be prioritised.
Patients who require emergency care:
If you require emergency care, our triage nurse will see and assess you. You may have some more tests (such as blood tests). You will then need to wait to be seen by one of our specialist Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENP) or a doctor.
The Gynaecology Emergency Department (GED) is a specialist emergency service and can be very busy. This means that you may be in the department for up to four hours (or longer during very busy periods).
Please be aware that you are seen according to your clinical need, not the time when you arrive.
The nurse or doctor will ask you about your problem and perform any necessary examinations or tests. This may include a vaginal/internal examination and/or blood tests.
The nurse or doctor will then:
- Decide you are able to safely go home or require admission
- Arrange a follow-up appointment in a GED Clinic / EPAU (if required)
Unless you ask us not to, we will send your GP information about the care we have given you.
When you are discharged home
If you feel unwell when you go home and you feel your symptoms have become worse, then you can re attend the department for clinical assessment at any time, if however, you have a life-threatening emergency you should contact 999.
If you are experiencing heavy bleeding and or severe pain then please attend the Gynaecology Emergency Department urgently.
Follow-up appointments
If you are given a follow-up appointment, please come at the time given to you. Please note that whilst we make every effort to see you at the appointed time, it is not always possible if there are unwell or emergency patients needing to be seen urgently.
You need to come to this appointment, even if you feel your symptoms have got better or gone away. If there are no concerns at your follow-up appointment we will discharge you. If you require further treatment, we will organise this for.
If you do not attend your appointment, we will call you by phone and invite you to return the call if you don’t answer.
If we receive no return call we will discharge you back to the care of your GP.
Test results
If you have had blood tests, we will tell you when you can expect the results. A member of our nursing team will call you once the result is available with your management plan. It is important for you to call us if you miss our call to prevent a delay in your treatment.
If you have had urine samples or swabs sent for analysis we will write to you and your GP if treatment is required. We ask that you please do not ring the department for these results as they will not be given out over the phone.
Please note, if your blood, urine or swab results are normal and require no further action, we will not routinely call you to tell you.