Service evaluation of an early pregnancy loss support clinic in an inner London early pregnancy unit.

BACKGROUND

Early pregnancy loss (EPL) can have profound implications for physical and psychological health. In the UK, significant variation in service provision exists for women affected by EPL. There is very little guidance on what hospital-based follow-up support services should entail, and how these can be implemented and integrated into current care provision to meet the needs of women who experience EPL. This service evaluation (SE) reports on an Early Pregnancy Loss Support Clinic (EPLSC) in an inner-city Hospital Trust.

METHODS

This SE gathered both quantitative and qualitative feedback from women to assess the value of a locally implemented Early Pregnancy Loss Support Clinic (EPLSC). Quantitative feedback was collected using the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS) questionnaire and the Visual Anxiety Scale (VAS-A), both administered to women attending the EPLSC. Qualitative feedback was collected through semi-structured interviews and focused on four pre-determined themes based on EPL literature - physical health, mental health, role of the bereavement midwife and overall service user experience. Quantitative feedback was summarised using descriptive statistics, while qualitative feedback was analysed using framework analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 127 women were invited to the EPLSC, with 110 (87%) attending, and 17 (13%) not attending their appointment. SAPS scores ranged from 21 to 28, indicating that women were either satisfied or very satisfied with the care they received at the EPLSC. Results from VAS-A scores showed that 76 (69%) women reported a decrease in anxiety immediately after attending the EPLSC, compared to 8 (7%) who reported no change or a small increase in anxiety. Qualitative findings highlighted women's concerns around future fertility, the importance of emotional support and the value of connecting with the bereavement midwife.

CONCLUSION

An EPLSC that focuses on providing emotional support and reassurance, particularly regarding future fertility, is important to women. Further rigorous evaluation of national disparities in EPL follow-up is urgently needed to assess the gaps in clinical care delivery.