Women are at serious risk of harm from late diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

An investigation carried out by the UK’s Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) has uncovered 30 missed ectopic pregnancies in the NHS leading to “serious harm” in a one year period.

A report by HSIB1 said prompt referral to early pregnancy units (EPUs) can make the difference between life and death.

It said, however, that there were differing levels of provision and a mismatch between capacity and demand in the units which heightens the risk that the diagnosis of the time critical condition is delayed or missed. The cases were found in national incident data between April 2017 and August 2018.

Lesley Kay, deputy medical director at HSIB, said that women can suffer “distressing and …