The Profile of Women Attending the National Maternity Hospital Emergency Out Of Hours Service – Two Decades On. A Retrospective Review

• Published in: Irish medical journal Vol. 112; no. 3; p. 895
• Main Authors: O’Brien, O F, Lee, S, Baby, A, McAuliffe, F M, Higgins, M F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland 14-03-2019
• Subjects: After-Hours Care - statistics & numerical data; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Emergency Treatment - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals, Maternity - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Hypertension - epidemiology; Ireland - epidemiology; Pre-Eclampsia - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Uterine Hemorrhage - epidemiology; Vomiting - epidemiology; Ireland
• ISSN: 0332-3102

Introduction
This study aimed to review the profile of women attending an out of hours emergency service (OHS) in a maternity hospital and compare it to a previous study.
Methods
Retrospective study. Demographic information was recorded including timing of presentation, reason and outcome.
Results
In 2017, 9,020 women attended the OHS, a 334% increase since 1993. On detailed review of 2,143 charts, most (84.7%, n=1,815) were antenatal. The most common reason for presenting to the OHS then was first trimester bleeding. In 2017, over half of antenatal women (51%, n=1,092) presented with “other” reasons, such as vomiting, hypertension or suspected pre-eclampsia. Admission rates significantly decreased from 1993 (38% (n=1,053) in 1993 vs. 16% (n=338) in 2017; p<0.05).
Discussion
Numbers attending for emergency maternity care have increased in both numbers and variety of presentations. It is important that women are seen and cared for in a compassionate, kind and evidence based manner.