day assessment unit
day assessment unit
A maternal care unit created in 1989 to provide a specialist unit for the outpatient assessment of pregnant women and their unborn babies. It is staffed by midwives with experience in high-risk pregnancies, a part-time maternity care assistant and a ward clerk. There is access to specialist medical advice at all times.DAU goals
• Ensure safe assessment of pregnant women and their babies.
• Avoid hospital admission if possible.
• Ensure appropriate ongoing care by returning low-risk women to community care and transferring high-risk women to consultant care.
Indications for DAU referral
Every pregnant woman attending the DAU, regardless of the indication for referral, should have the basic antenatal checks that are appropriate to her gestation (BP, urinalysis, palpation of abdomen, and auscultation of fetal heart > 20 weeks).
Sources of referral to DAU
Community midwives and GPs for referral or advice; hospital consultants and their teams for maternal or fetal monitoring; follow-up appointments following discharge from hospital or an antenatal appointment.