Health services

Description

NHS Devon CCG has appointed a prime provider in the locality of Devon to provide a termination of pregnancy service within the community. The service will provide: Counselling and assessment. The choice of medical or surgical ToP before 24+ 0 week’s gestation. Contraception Completion of forms required under the Abortion Act. Follow up care (if clinically indicated or required by the service user). Consultations by phone or video call depending on preference. Settings of services to include both hospital and in the community. This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Devon CCG has appointed a prime provider in the locality of Devon CCG to provide a Termination of Pregnancy Service within the community. The service will provide: — counselling and assessment, — choice of medical or surgical ToP before 24+ 0 week’s gestation, — contraception; the provider will ensure that the full range of reversible contraceptive options are available for women on the same day as the ToP by staff who have the knowledge and skills to provide these. This will include implants and intrauterine devices if this is the women’s preference. For women having medical ToP and who choose depot medroxyprogesterone acetate as contraception this must be provided at the same appointment they take mifepristone. They will ensure that there is a risk of ongoing pregnancy but that it will be low, — completion of forms required under the Abortion Act, — follow up care (if clinically indicated or required by the service user). The service being provided will be sensitive to the service user’s needs and feelings. Information both written and verbal will be provided in an objective and non-judgmental way, which allows service users to make choices. The provider will inform the service user that ToP does not increase the risk of long-term health problems. Information will be provided about the benefits and risks of medical and surgical methods of termination without being directive, so that women can make their own choices. Guidelines have been provided which detail these and differentiate risks and benefits for each by gestational stage. Information will be provided as early as possible to help women prepare, ensuring that they know what the process involves and what stages happen next in terms of pain and bleeding and what to expect. The provider will use a variety of formats to explain this. If the ToP method is medical, information will be shared of what they may see, what it will look like and whether there may be movement. If the ToP is at home the service will include explanations on how to be sure that the pregnancy has passed. Signs and symptoms will be provided to ensure that the service user has indications on when they may need to seek medical help and who they should contact. Information will be provided about the different ways of handling foetal remains. If the ToP is for foetal anomaly and this is not within a maternity setting, the service user will have clear referral pathways and communication routes to enable easy transfer and access to information about the anomaly. — consultations by phone or video call depending on preference, — settings of services to include both hospital and in the community. This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.