Gestational diabetes If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is because it has been found that you have a higher than normal level of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. It is called gestational diabetes because it has been found whilst you are pregnant.  In a small amount of cases, it may be that a woman has undiagnosed diabetes, not caused by pregnancy.  The only way to know this is after your baby is born.  If your blood glucose remains high or uncontrolled postnatally then it is likely you have type 2 diabetes, your GP will check this at…

Perinatal describes the time from pregnancy up until a year after you’ve had your baby. Pregnancy, birth and looking after a baby are life changing events and with it, which although are mostly positive, can also be challenging. Many new parents will go through a huge variety of emotions during this time and some may struggle. If you are experiencing difficult feelings and they are having an effect on your daily life, it may be that you have mental health difficulties. Below is listed the range of mental health difficulties that new mothers may experience.  Signs/symptoms of perinatal depression (PND)…

Welcome to our paediatric outpatient department and Children's Ward.  The Paediatric department (Children's ward) provides inpatient and outpatient treatment of medical and surgical conditions, in children from birth up to the seventeenth birthday. The Children's ward deals with medical conditions and also provides facilities for many surgical specialties. The majority of children needing surgery can be treated in Hereford.  However, surgery in young children (generally under two years of age) and specialist surgery is referred to a specialist Children’s hospital, usually Birmingham. Both the medical and surgical specialties at The County Hospital have good links with Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Several…

WVT has a key part to play in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a duty on every NHS Trust to have arrangements in place to ensure that the organisation and all staff working within it have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The Trust regularly reviews its arrangements against these requirements and is compliant with them. The Trust board takes the issue of safeguarding extremely seriously and receives an annual report on safeguarding children issues. The Trust’s Safeguarding Committee meets quarterly and monitors safeguarding…

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) is a clinic, which assesses women in early pregnancy who have bleeding or pain (up to 18 weeks of pregnancy).  It is located on the second floor of Hereford County Hospital, within the women's health department. Your GP or Accident and Emergency doctor will arrange your appointment for you. We aim to diagnose your problem, offer advice, support and any treatment which may be needed. If you do not already have an appointment a member of the team will ring you with a date and time. We aim to see you within 2 working days.…

The Pathology Laboratory at Wye Valley NHS Trust is located to the right of the main entrance of the County Hospital in Hereford. The Pathology Laboratory provides a full range of pathology investigations for Herefordshire and some areas in Powys. Samples originate from the County Hospital, General Practice surgeries and the Community Hospitals. The laboratory has electronic links with all locations to ensure speedy and accurate return of results. Pathology handbook Our full test repertoire and information for users and patients can be found in the Wye Valley NHS Trust’s Pathology Handbook The above link is for the controlled version…

A comprehensive guide Induction of labour (IOL) is the attempt to bring on labour when a woman is not showing any signs of being in labour, it is now a commonly used intervention, with 1 in 3 women experiencing it.  As with any intervention offered in pregnancy and birth, you, as the mother have the option to accept or decline. In order to make that decision you will need up-to-date, evidence-based information about that topic. We want all women to have the same information and to empower you to make the right decision for you, your baby and your family.…

If you have previously given birth by caesarean section your care will differ slightly. You will continue seeing your midwife in the community setting, but will also be invited for a consultant appointment at 14 to 16 weeks and then again at 34 to 36 weeks.  A full discussion about your previous birth and current pregnancy will take place and the options for birth this time around.  Your consultant should go through the risks and benefits of both a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) and an EL LSCS (elective caesarean section).  If you decide to opt for an EL LSCS…

Further reading  Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Induction of labour, information for patients https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/induction-of-labour---information-for-people-who-use-nhs-services/  NICE, Induction of Labour guideline   National Childbirth Trust https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Newburn%20Induction%20of%20labour%20pp12-13.pdf  Why Induction Matters by Rachel Reed (Book - 2018)  MidwifeThinking.com - Rachel Reed   Inducing labour, making informed decisions by Dr Sara Wickham (Book - 2018)  In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop by Dr Sara Wickham (Book - 2021)  Your human rights during your birth  Obstetric Cholestasis  Appendix  Risks associated with having a caesarean section include:  Higher than normal blood loss – haemorrhage Infection Injury…

The Rheumatology Service at Hereford County Hospital focuses on inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue disease. Our service provides: Early diagnosis and long-term management to preserve joint function and prevent major organ damage. Expertise in diagnosis and management of patients with complex systemic inflammatory disease. Special interest in early inflammatory arthritis and vasculitis. Ultrasound service and intra-articular and soft tissue injections. Education and specialist knowledge to patients, their families and carers about their disease, drugs, and monitoring. Rheumatology patient telephone and email advice service. Physiotherapy led clinics for Inflammatory Back Pain, Axial Spondyloarthropathies, Hypermobility Syndromes and Fibromyalgia Peripheral clinic in Llandrindod…