Resources for general practitioners

The ANSC GP Resource Manual is no longer available as a program resource. All clinical information and advice, can now be viewed on relevant Sydney HealthPathways or resources on this site.

Refer to the following documents as guidance for antenatal care:

• Click here for antenatal schedule of visits (updated October 2024) 
• Click here for GP summary (updated November 2024) to use in conjunction with revised antenatal schedule of visits 

These recommendations are for women attending both RPA Women and Babies and Canterbury Hospital for their antenatal care.

GPs participating in the ANSC program will be expected to adhere to the agreed guidelines as outlined in the SLHD ANSC Schedule of Visits when caring for their antenatal shared care patients.

Breaches of the ANSC Schedule of Visits that affect patient outcomes will be recorded for quality assurance purposes. Any investigations requested by the GP for a woman under his/her care must be followed up by the GP concerned. At all times it is the primary responsibility of the provider ordering the test or noting an abnormal finding to ensure appropriate follow-up management and communication, irrespective of whether a copy has been sent to the participating hospital

Pregnancy Checklist – Patient Resource.  A pregnancy checklist that suggests topics your patients should discuss with their GP/ health professional during your pregnancy and following birth.

Refer to Sydney HealthPathways Early Pregnancy Assessment Pathway for information about the RPA EPAS service and referral criteria.

Refer to HealthPathways Sydney Fetal Movements Pathway here: Fetal Movements – Community HealthPathways Sydney 

Refer to Sydney HealthPathways Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy Pathway for information

Refer to the HealthPathways Sydney Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health Pathway Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health – Community HealthPathways Sydney 

Clinical Services 

Psychological Support Services (PSS) 

PSS provides FREE short term face-to-face psychological services to people living in the CESPHN region. Priority groups include women experiencing perinatal depression from conception to 12 months after birth. 

For more information visit our PSS page 

St John of God Medical Centre 
Free Medicare fund Psychiatrist service for women in the perinatal period that cannot afford a consult with a private psychiatrist.
The clinic provides short term assessment, therapy, and treatment plan and the woman is referred back to the GP for ongoing management 

For more information and referral processes visit Clinic Information  and GP Referral Form 

Refer to HealthPathways Sydney Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis of Fetal and Maternal Conditions

Contacts: 

• RPA Genetic Counsellors: Ph 9515 5080, 

• Genomics Clinical Midwifery Consultant Ph 0448 333 516, or  

• Fetal Medicine Unit Ph 9515 6042 

Resources

• GP Information Sheet – First trimester screening for prediction and prevention of preterm preeclampsia
• NSW Health:  Centre for Genetics Education
• Patient Brochures- RPA Women and Babies including  cFTS, NIPT, CVS & Amniocentesis, Pre-term preeclampsia
• Patient Brochure- Prenatal testing booklet – NSW Health : Centre for Genetics Education
• RACGP – Genomics in general practice
• RACGP – Reproductive carrier testing
• First Trimester Screening Learning Module: NSW Centre For Genetics: On-line education module
• Search for Certified Operators to perform Nuchal Translucency – RANZCOG Nuchal Translucency: Ultrasound, education and monitoring program
• Translated material regarding genetics, prenatal testing and pregnancy are located at the Multicultural Health Communication Service – NSW Health.

Please refer to the following resources to guide clinical management : Referral Flowchart (below) and Sydney HealthPathways – Thyroid Disease in pregnancy

For any clinical concerns, please contact Dr Ash Gargya or Julie Hetherington in the Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinic ph. 9515 7225.

Thyroid Disease Guidelines and referral flowchart: Who to screen, Thyroid Function Test Reference ranges in pregnancy, referral criteria

Antenatal Thyroid Clinic Referral Form (April 2020)

• Get Healthy in Pregnancy ( NSW Health) – Free telephone-based service to support all women about eat healthily, getting active and maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy
• Eat For Health ( Australian Government) – Healthy eating during pregnancy – Consumer brochure
• Pregnancy and alcohol  (Australian Government)
• Tobacco smoking and pregnancy ( NSW Health)

Please refer to the Antenatal – Second and Third Trimester Care Health Pathway for guidance on recommended care and investigations in the second and third trimesters, including GBS screening at 35-37 weeks.  

• Sydney HealthPathways – Breastfeeding 
• SLHD Breastfeeding Policy
• NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidelines