We provide a confidential abortion service, which includes counselling for women who ask for support in decision making. This is a comprehensive service which also provides the full range of contraception, a sexual health risk assessment and screening, counsellors and support workers and onward referral to other specialist services as required.

How can I be referred to discuss having an abortion?

You can discuss this with your doctor or you can refer yourself to the Pregnancy Advisory Service at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Contact Us

01482 607843
(Monday to Friday 8.30 to 4.30)

Seeing a Counsellor

Information is available on:

How to Contact the Pregnancy Advisory Service

If you have any queries, wish any further information or have simply changed your mind and no longer wish an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible on: 01482 607843

Young People

If you are pregnant you’ve probably have a lot of questions and perhaps are unsure about what to do.

To access information for young people on abortion go to:http://conifersexhealth.co.uk/home/under-25s/abortion-support/

To access information for young people seehttp://conifersexhealth.co.uk/home/under-25s/

You may also wish to contact Brook who provides free and confidential sexual health advice and services specifically for young people under 25.

Confidential advice for under 25s – “Ask Brook”. Text 07717 989023 (standard SMS rates apply), webchat (IM), or via our website:http://www.brook.org.uk

Appointments

How many appointments?

As a minimum, you will require an assessment appointment and either 1 or 2 further visits to the Hospital for the procedure. It depends on the stage in your pregnancy and the procedure undertaken. Some people think everything is done on one visit; this is not the case.

Where do I go for my assessment appointment?

Once you have been referred you will be given the next available clinic appointment.

We offer telephone assessment for some women to reduce the amount of time spent in the outpatient clinic.

Clinics are located at both the Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

How long will my appointment take?

You need to allow about two to three hours for your appointment. If you have been telephoned assessed this will assist to reduce your time in clinic. It is important to arrive on time: if you are late we may not be able to see you that day.

What do I need to bring with me?

Please bring details of any medicines you are taking and details of any medical conditions that you have. This will help the doctor when they see you.

Who can come with me to my appointment?

You can bring a partner, relative or friend with you. You may want them to come into the consultation with you, it is your choice. The doctor will need to see you on your own for some of the time. It is best if you do not bring children into the consultation, because it can be difficult to concentrate if you are looking after a child. We have no child care facilities available in the clinics.

How will the termination be carried out?

This depends on how many weeks you are into your pregnancy, your health and the choices available. A decision can be made at your assessment visit regarding the procedure.

  • Local anaesthetic termination of pregnancy (up to and including 10 weeks and done in outpatients department or in theatre)
  • Medical termination of pregnancy (up to 9 weeks)
  • Surgical Termination of Pregnancy (up to 14 weeks)

If your procedure cannot be carried out in Hull within these timescales, we transfer your care to the national agency British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) who will perform procedures up to the legal limit of 23 completed weeks.

What will happen on my first visit?

There are a number of things done; a scan if one has not been performed already in this pregnancy, seeing the nurse and doctor, blood tests and infection tests.

You will have a scan (if needed):

  • To confirm the gestation (the size of the pregnancy).

When you see a nurse:

  • she will ask your social and medical history and talk to you about your decision. She will also check your blood pressure, height and weight.
  • she will be able to discuss any concerns or worries
  • she will give you advice and information about future contraception

You may want to see a counsellor:

  • If you would like more time to think about any aspect of your decision or your feelings about it.

You will see a doctor who will:

  • assess your health and explain the risks and benefits of the different options available
  • book you for the procedure and explain what will happen
  • also give advice on and make arrangements for the contraceptive of your choice
  • liaise with other specialists if you have a complex medical condition

You will be given information about the procedure that you have chosen and your future appointments.

The abortion will probably take place within 2 weeks of your appointment.

What tests will be carried out in the clinic?

You will have routine blood tests for:

  • Anaemia (including sickle and thalassaemia, if necessary)
  • Blood group
  • HIV test (if you wish)

You will also be offered routine screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Before you leave the clinic

Arrangements will be made for your procedure and you will be given information on time, place and any other instructions before you leave the clinic.

It is important to think about what methods of contraception you will use after the termination because all reversible methods are provided as part of your care. To access information on all methods of contraception seewww.fpa.org.uk . Nursing and medical staff will discuss the options with you.

What are the procedures carried out?

Procedures will be carried out in the outpatient or you will be admitted to one of the gynaecology areas.

For more information on procedures please access the information below.

What happens if I need to have my procedure done at bpas?

You may be referred directly to bpas for assessment and procedure.

If you have been seen in the hospital for assessment then you will just require the procedure to be carried out by bpas. For information on procedures carried out at bpas go to: http://www.bpas.org/bpaswoman

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) hotline number: 08457 304030

After the abortion

You will be given been given information about the procedure that you have had done, what to expect afterwards, follow up arrangements and how to make contact if you have any worries or questions. You will also be informed of any symptoms you may experience that would necessitate urgent medical consultation.

Outreach Nurses

If you are under 19 and attend the Pregnancy Advisory Service you can be supported afterwards by one of the contraception Outreach Nurses.

Useful Websites