Marianne, our Helpline and Support Manager, attended the Urgent Care Conference in Milton Keynes alongside Dr Caitlin Dean as representatives for PSS. We were thrilled to have been invited to exhibit, but also to be one of the speakers presenting on the first of two days. In attendance at the conference were around 450 healthcare professionals, primarily comprised of Paramedics and Advanced Nurse Practitioners.
Marianne’s experience
Caitlin kicked off with an hour-long presentation about Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum, and the important role that Paramedics and/or staff in Urgent Treatment Centres might play in the journey of someone suffering. She talked about the challenges that HG sufferers face when trying to access treatment, and the importance of ditching ketones as an assessment tool (many who we later spoke to said that the ketones test is something they are still being asked to do.)
Following Caitlin’s presentation, there was an engagement opportunity, and we had lots of interest from people who were keen to find out more about PSS and the work that we are doing.
Many said that they struggle to treat HG patients due to lack of an official pathway within their Urgent Treatment Centre, or restrictions around what they are allowed to do – and we were able to discuss helping them to develop some guidance that they could implement.
An ideal situation for HG sufferers would be that either Paramedics could give IV fluids/antiemetics at home to save a trip to hospital, or that in Urgent Treatment Centres this could also be done so people aren’t then needing to make another journey for more support.
We distributed many posters and leaflets for display in places of work and were also able to listen to the other speakers. One of these was Professor Stuart Maitland Knibb who delivered an incredible talk around Mental Health – he started by simply saying that when a patient reaches out for help, it’s because they need it and that they should be believed. Even though he was referring to those in mental health crisis, I couldn’t help but relate it to all those suffering with NVP/HG who are so often dismissed or not listened to.
When training healthcare professionals we talk about the fact that patients will often try and cope at home for some time before accessing support – and when they do go to their GP (or any other HCP,) it’s because they really do need it.
Professor Maitland Knibb also reflected on the need for early intervention with care in relation to mental health, which is something we very much agree with at PSS. We hope that in future we will see mental health support as something integrated into guidelines for treating HG patients.
Thank you for having us UCC – it was a great day and we look forward to hopefully coming back next year!
We are always available for discussions about how we can help Urgent Care Centres and Professionals to deliver pathways of care.
If you need support, call our freephone 0800 055 4361.
