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Dr Deirdre Hayes-Ryan joins AEPU Executive Committee
Congratulations to Dr Deirdre Hayes-Ryan who has been appointed to the Scientific Committee of the Association of Early Pregnancy Units (AEPU). This is the first time that a representative from Ireland has been appointed to the AEPU Executive Committee.
Dr Hayes-Ryan is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Cork University Maternity Hospital. She is Clinical Lead for Early Pregnancy and Termination of Pregnancy Care and responsible for clinical governance, education and research. Deirdre is committed to improving clinical care for women with early pregnancy complications. She established Ireland’s first offsite Early Pregnancy Unit, introduced manual vacuum aspiration services and has written several national clinical guidelines. Since completing her PhD in 2020, Dr Hayes-Ryan has remained an active member of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, leading a range of projects, including Experiences and outcomes in an Early Pregnancy Unit and Termination of Pregnancy in Ireland. Deirdre is also co-representing Ireland on the Management Committee of the recently launched European network for Quality Uterine evacuation Integration and Professional training (EQUIP) COST Action (CA25123).
The Executive Committee of the AEPU comprises multi-disciplinary specialists and patient advocates in early pregnancy care. Members volunteer their time to serve as the governing body responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight to the association’s activities. The Committee’s main function is to ensure that the AEPU fulfils its vision of high quality, safe and compassionate early pregnancy care for all. It coordinates educational initiatives, collates relevant clinical guidelines, facilitates research collaboration, and represents the interests of early pregnancy units at national and professional levels. It also oversees membership, organises annual scientific meetings, and promotes communication between units across the UK to aim for consistency, safety, and excellence in early pregnancy care.
Dr Hayes-Ryan takes over the role of AEPU Scientific Lead from Dr Andrea Woolner, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Aberdeen Centre for Women’s Health Research, University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics and the Early Pregnancy lead consultant for NHS Grampian. Members of the PLRG recently collaborated with Dr Woolner on the PASTeL (Pregnancy After Second Trimester pregnancy Loss)-3 study exploring management and research priorities for second trimester pregnancy loss.
More about the AEPU
The AEPU is a multiprofessional organisation representing over 200 Early Pregnancy Units (EPU’s) across the UK. Members include healthcare professionals who specialise in early pregnancy assessment, surveillance, and care. The AEPU is dedicated to setting and maintaining high standards in the care of women during early pregnancy. It works towards improving early pregnancy care through various initiatives, including its annual conference, academic engagement, clinical guidelines, research collaboration and professional standards. The AEPU is recognised by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) as a specialist society.