Our early pregnancy unit (EPU) supports women up to 16 weeks in pregnancy with concerns such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or excessive vomiting (hyperemesis gravadium), by appointment only.
I have found out I am pregnant, but don’t have pain or bleeding, do I contact you?
No, please register for your routine antenatal care via the self-referral link below.
Who can self- refer?
We assess women up to 16 weeks in pregnancy, who live in Surrey and Sussex areas for complications such as pain, bleeding or excessive vomiting (Hyperemesis Gravadium). If you are experiencing vaginal bleeding and are less than 6 weeks pregnant, you may not be scanned, but can self-refer for assessment and advice.
If you do not have pain or bleeding, but have had a previous molar pregnancy/ ectopic pregnancy/ recurrent miscarriage, you can self-refer for a reassurance scan around 6-8 weeks pregnant, as per national guidance, following nurse assessment of your obstetric history.
As an emergency unit, we do not respond to non-urgent pregnancy
related enquiries. Please seek advice from your GP, midwife or pharmacist.
How do I contact you?
Our improved and more timely online portal is the primary way to contact the Early Pregnancy Unit, for advice and assessment. When you submit an enquiry, the triage nurse will review this and contact you within 24 hours. Triage is based on clinical need, so sometimes there may be delays if your enquiry is not urgent. You will automatically receive an email acknowledgement of your enquiry so you are confident we have received it, please check your junk folders for these emails.
Contact will be made by a reply email, or a phone call, depending on your enquiry.
Please ensure you include as much detail as possible so the nurse can effectively Triage by clinical need.
Unit open hours are Monday- Friday 09.00-16.00. Enquiries submitted after 15.00 will be reviewed the next working day. Outside of these times, please submit your enquiry, which will be reviewed the next working weekday. In case of emergency:
How to find us
Patients are seen by booked appointment only. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time and ensure plenty of time for parking. If you arrive more than 10 minutes past your appointment time, your appointment will need to be rescheduled. This may not be the same day.
Please note that children are not permitted inside the scan rooms, so we advise you make alternative arrangements for childcare when attending the department.
You can find the department via the east entrance of East Surrey Hospital, green zone, first floor, follow signs for Brockham ward, EPU.
What do I do in an emergency?
Although these can be normal, if you have pain or bleeding, this is understandably a concern for you in your pregnancy. Submit your enquiry with as much detail, so the nurse can call you back. Your enquiry will be reviewed within onw working day during unit open hours and responded to with a clear plan for assessment.
If you are bleeding, ensure you monitor the frequency of pad changes to support the nurse assessment.
If you are experiencing severe pain, which is stopping you carrying out daily activities, or heavy vaginal bleeding which is soaking through more than 2 sanitary pads every hour, then please attend your nearest Emergency Department immediately for assessment.
We are so sorry you are or have experienced pregnancy loss. We warmly invite you to join our new pregnancy loss support group, for support from other women who have also experienced pregnancy loss.
We are launching the group to provide a safe space for women to meet others who have also experienced pregnancy loss. Everyone’s journey is individual, but sharing experiences can help to process your own. The group will be calm and casual, with no formal structure or pressure to share your own experience with a wide group. You may benefit from simply meeting other women and listening.
There is no requirement to have been a patient of EPU at SaSH, or have had a recent loss. We welcome all types of pregnancy loss of all gestations and all circumstances.
Please feel free to come alone or bring a partner or a friend. Unfortunately, the sessions are not suitable for children. No need to pre-book, just turn up.
Where: Macmillan Cancer Centre, East Surrey Hospital
Separate building, opposite the East Entrance
When: 6 - 7pm
The first Wednesday every Month in 2023:
- 1 November
- 6 December
Dates for 2024 - 6 - 7pm
- 3 January
- 7 Feburary
- 6 March
- 3 April
- 1 May
- 5 June
- 3 July
- 7 August
- 4 September
- 2 October
- 6 November
- 4 December