GPs should discuss the various models of antenatal care with expecting parents. Information is available on the RPA Women and Babies and Canterbury Hospital websites. During the first midwife appointment, women will confirm their model of care preferences, and allocation to the continuity models will be based on clinical risk, personal preferences and service availability. Women accepted in the continuity models will be contacted by the team.
Women with pregnancy complications should be referred promptly to the hospital antenatal clinic (ANC) for triage. The ANC will arrange a first visit at an appropriate gestation in a specialty clinic if required. If you are unsure whether an earlier appointment in a specialty clinic is appropriate, please contact the GP Shared Care Liaison to discuss further.
Please refer women to the hospital for antenatal care as soon as possible after the pregnancy is confirmed.
If you are uncertain about the best approach for referring a woman, or if the woman requires urgent review, contact hospital O&G Registrar on call or contact GP Liaison Midwife ph. 0425 230 662
All women, regardless of age, should be counselled and offered the option for screening which can identify pregnancies at high risk of maternal and/or fetal conditions, as early as possible in the pregnancy. Patient information about screening tests is available on the RPA Women and Babies website.
Information on prenatal screening can be found on the Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis of Fetal and Maternal Conditions HealthPathway.
GP ANSC is suitable for women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. Suitability will be confirmed after the first hospital visit and may change as the pregnancy progresses.
Women with pregnancy risk factors may see an obstetrician following the 19-22 week morphology ultrasound. The most appropriate model of antenatal care will be confirmed at this visit.
Please reinforce with Practice Staff and women and families that women who have opted for GP ANSC must have ALL scheduled antenatal visits attended by a recognised ANSC GP. If their regular ANSC GP is away, the woman should be seen by another recognised ANSC GP within the practice or referred to the hospital for the scheduled visit.
RPA Women and Babies and Canterbury Hospital use the NSW Health Antenatal Record Card. These cards can be ordered through Finsbury Green.
Finsbury Green do have a minimum order requirement and will charge postage and handling costs. Minimum order is 1 pack = 250 cards P&H costs = $16.50 (incl gst)
Please contact Finsbury Green via email nswhealth@finsbury.com.au to place order.
Women and families in the ANSC model must be provided with an NSW Health Antenatal Record Card by their GP to bring to their first hospital appointment.
Health Referral Forms
My Patients
GP Antenatal Shared Care Program
RPA Women and Babies/Canterbury Hospital
Bookings, referral process and contacts
There are no postcode restrictions on booking at Canterbury and RPA Hospitals. However, only families living in the local area are able to access midwifery continuity models that involve postnatal home visits (e.g. MGP, MAPs, Birth Centre, CAPs and Midwifery at home services). Please refer to the postcode boundaries for each hospital below:
Contact information for RPA Women and Babies can be found here
Contact information for Canterbury Hospital can be found here
