Abortion

What we offer

An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy. It is also referred to as a ‘termination of pregnancy’ or ‘termination’. An abortion is different from a miscarriage, where the pregnancy ends without medical intervention.

If you have discovered you are pregnant and have decided not to go through with the pregnancy you can request a termination by calling one of the numbers below, attending your local sexual health clinic or by visiting your GP.

Referrals

Patients can refer themselves or can be referred by their GP, nurse or family planning clinic.

At your appointment

We recognise that in many cases this can be a very difficult decision to make and as such once you have been referred you will be sent an appointment to see the Nurse in the Pregnancy Advisory Clinic. This nurse works within the unit and will discuss your reasons for deciding to have a termination of pregnancy.

You need to attend the appointment with a full bladder as you will firstly have an ultrasound scan to determine how many weeks pregnant you are. This information is needed to complete the treatment effectively. The nurse will also explain how your pregnancy will be ended, so that you can make an informed choice about whether or not you wish to continue with the procedure. You will also have a routine blood test to tell us what blood group you are and to make sure that you are not anaemic (low in iron).

At your counselling appointment, you will be given a date to start your treatment. Ideally this will be carried out as soon as possible, sometimes on the same day (depending on the availability on the ward). Please note – we only offer medical (using tablets) termination. Once you have made your decision, a date will then be agreed to start your treatment.

The medical treatment consists of two parts. The first part is taking a tablet and having bloods taken. The second part is two days later when you would come in for a hospital stay. The length of stay depends upon the size of the pregnancy and the effectiveness of the treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make an appointment?

You can self-refer or be referred via your GP, nurse or family planning clinic.

Will there be a scan?

Yes. You will need a full bladder for this so make sure you have had plenty of water to drink prior to your appointment. If the pregnancy is very early there may be a need to carry out an internal scan where the probe is covered in a condom and inserted into the vagina.

How long with the appointment take?

Approx. two to three hours

Do I need to bring anything with me?

It is useful to bring with you details of your address, GP practice and contact details of your next of kin.

What will happen when I arrive?

The receptionist will book you in and show you to a waiting area. Next, you will have your scan.

Can I bring someone with me?

We are asking people at this time to attend appointments alone where possible due to Covid restrictions. There are also visiting restrictions in place.

Will I have to stay overnight?

An overnight stay is possible if you encounter any problems e.g. heavy bleeding, or you are over nine weeks pregnant and the treatment has not worked.

Is there any follow-up?

We would only need to see you again for a follow-up scan if the pregnancy tissue passed appeared ragged, or if no pregnancy tissue was seen at all for pregnancies below nine weeks. However, there is always someone able to offer advice, if needed, on Ward 19 at Scunthorpe. You can ring at any time.

Will I be offered contraception?

We can offer a variety of contraception and these options will be discussed with you at the initial appointment.

Will anyone know what I’m in for?

This service is completely confidential. The only people that would know are the staff on the ward dealing with your care, and anyone else you wish to tell. We do not give out information over the phone.

Will all the information I give be kept private?

Yes, but please be aware that there are certain circumstances where we have a duty of care to patients and may have to inform someone, for instance:

If you are under 13-years-old and have had sexual intercourse
If you are under 18-years-old and have been abused sexually , physically or emotionally
If anybody’s life at risk.

What If I know the staff member? Will it still be kept confidential?

Yes

Will I need to be examined?

Not unless you describe symptoms of infection

Will I start treatment that day?

If there is a slot available, otherwise you will be given an appointment within the next five working days.

Is there an interpreting service?

Yes, we use a phone interpreting service known as Big Word.

Contact us

Pregnancy Advisory Service
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital: 03033 304290

Pregnancy Advisory Service
Scunthorpe General Hospital: 03033 306537