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The Health Department is revising patient information leaflets and updating guidelines to improve the care of islanders with a rare pregnancy complication.
It comes after the department pledged to review how women with a possible ectopic pregnancy are cared for after islanders took to social media to share stories of having their symptoms dismissed.
According to a recent Health Advisory Board report, the department is updating patient information leaflets and evaluating existing guidelines and training procedures, after an initial review found that immediate actions needed to be taken.
Pictured: The Health Department pledged to review how women with a possible ectopic pregnancy are cared for last month after islanders shared stories of having their symptoms dismissed.
The report, which due for discussion at tomorrow's board meeting, said that pathways related to ectopic pregnancy and Emergency Department care for pregnant women experiencing pain or bleeding would continue to be reviewed as the department requests feedback from service users.
It continued: “We are benchmarking our current guidelines to ensure our information and practices are up-to-date and in line with NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] guidelines.
“The next steps include regular multidisciplinary team meetings to thoroughly review all existing guideline and implement any identified changes.
“Any training needs identified will be addressed to ensure staff are appropriately trained.
“Additionally, ongoing audits will be conducted to ensure that any implemented changes are effectively integrated into our standard operating procedures.”
This review comes after islanders last month shared stories online of having their concerns around miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies downplayed by medical staff until their condition worsened.
Pictured: Sarah Alves is calling for better training for staff after her "excruciating" pain and bleeding was dismissed.
Sarah Alves, 38, was the first to post her story online – and prompted many other islanders to share similar testimonies.
Mrs Alves lost her baby as a result of an ectopic pregnancy earlier this year.
This potentially life-threatening complication happens when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus, and results in the loss of the pregnancy.
About 1-2% pregnancies are ectopic.
Mrs Alves said her severe pain and bleeding was dismissed by a doctor – only for her to require emergency surgery days later.
This experience prompted the mother-of-five to launch a petition calling for more training for doctors in the Emergency Department to understand the signs of ectopic pregnancy.
Pictured: Mrs Alves launched a petition calling for more training for doctors in the Emergency Department to understand the signs of ectopic pregnancy.
In response, Dr Fiona Nelson, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, said the Health Department was "concerned" to hear the experience shared on social media – and pledged to "review our current practice across all areas involved in the care of women with a possible ectopic pregnancy".
She said: "At HCS, we aim to provide the very best patient care in all cases, and we were concerned to hear about the experiences that some patients have described on social media.
"While we cannot speak about individual cases, we appreciate that when someone is diagnosed and treated for an ectopic pregnancy it can be a very distressing time.
"We would like to reassure islanders that we have guidelines in place to help ensure that patients who present with an ectopic pregnancy are diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
"In the light of the concerns raised we will review our current practice across all areas involved in the care of women with a possible ectopic pregnancy."
Pictured: Anyone who has concerns in early pregnancy is advised to seek advice from their GP in the first instance.
Dr Nelson explained that anyone who has concerns in early pregnancy should seek advice from their GP in the first instance.
If there is significant pain or bleeding, or if these symptoms are associated with feeling unwell, they should attend the Emergency Department directly.
The woman can then be clinically assessed and referred on to the gynaecology team.
She added: "We would also like to signpost patients, who have had any issues about the care they have received, to our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). PALS can listen to their concerns and arrange for any matters raised to be looked into.
"We are always keen to receive feedback as learning from patient experience helps us to improve the care we provide.”
You can find more information on ectopic pregnancies HERE.
Women can access psychological support after a pregnancy loss via a counsellor based in the Women’s and Children’s Care Group.
Islanders can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 16:00 by phoning 443515 or by emailing PALS@health.gov.je.
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