ANSC March 2025 Update: Royal Hospital for Women

Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) Resources

Key Contact Details:

• GP Enquiries: SESLHD-RHWGPSCEnquiries@health.nsw.gov.au
• Midwives: 0417 995 153 (8:00 am – 4:30pm)
• Obstetric Doctors: 9382 6111
• Urgent 24/7 Advice: 0439 869 035 or 9382 6100 (from 20 weeks pregnancy)
  

Access Clinical Resources:

RHW Clinical Business Rules: Royal Hospital for Women Policies | South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (nsw.gov.au)

Shared Care Update: Yellow Card Documentation and PDSU Referral Process

To ensure successful shared care, please note the following updates:

Accurate Yellow Card Documentation:

• Document all investigation results on the front of the yellow card.
• Record details of every antenatal visit on the back of the card.
• The yellow card becomes an official hospital record, so please keep it as complete as possible.
• New Antenatal Yellow Card here

New PDSU Referral Process for Iron Infusions:

• Clinicians must call ANW MUM Rachel Halpin on 0499 825 682 to book an iron infusion at the Pregnancy Day Stay Unit (PDSU).
  

Updated Clinical Business Rule:

• Please refer to the recently updated clinical business rule on Iron Deficiency, Anaemia and Haemoglobinopathies in Pregnancy: https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/RHWCLIN080IronDeficiencyAnaemiaandHaemoglobinopathiesinPregnancy.pdf

NSW RSV Prevention Program

GPs to document on women’ yellow when maternal RSV vaccination is given at the Practice.

The new NSW RSV Prevention Program aims to protect newborn and at-risk infants against RSV and reduce RSV-associated infections and hospitalisations through the transfer of maternal antibodies to the fetus during pregnancy, or provision of passive immunisation to infants not protected by maternal vaccination and eligible at-risk infants.

• Under the current NSW RSV vulnerable babies program all eligible  vulnerable infants should be offered a long-acting monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab (brand name Beyfortus™), funded by NSW Health. This program commenced on 25 March 2024 and will end on 16 March 2025 and can only be accessed from clinicians in treating hospitals and Aboriginal Medical Services.
• From 3 February 2025, Abrysvo® will be funded for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and recommended at 28 to 36 weeks’ gestation.
• From 17 March 2025, NSW Health will fund nirsevimab (Beyfortus™) for:
  • infants at birth not protected by maternal RSV vaccination or who have risk conditions for severe RSV disease
  • children up to 24 months of age with risk conditions for severe RSV disease entering their second RSV season and
  • NSW RSV Vulnerable Babies Program catch-up for infants born from 1 October 2024 to 16 March 2025 who are not protected by maternal vaccination and did not receive nirsevimab at birth.
  • Please document date RSV given on the Yellow Card – see attachment “yellow card”
    

Click here for more information – https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/respiratory-syncytial-virus.aspx

Obstetric Clinical & Neonatal Placements 2025

2025 RHW Clinical Placements Flyer FINAL

Menopause Hub Relocation Notice

The Menopause Hub at the Royal Hospital for Women has relocated. Please note that we are no longer located in Gynaecology Outpatients.

Refer to the campus map for the new location.

Comprehensive Menopause Service:

The multidisciplinary team provides expert care for women experiencing:

• Symptomatic menopause
• Premature menopause
• Complex medical or mood disorders
• Previous cancer diagnosis
• Bone health concerns
  

Clinic Details:

• Operating hours: Monday to Friday
• Available to patients from:
• Southern NSW LHD
• Sydney LHD
• St Vincent’s
• Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
• Justice Health
  

CALD AND CROSS-CULTURAL WORKER INFORMATION

Cross Cultural Worker in Maternity plus Child & Family Health Services

• 2025 classes for CALD – click here:  
  

Long-term health risks following Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) include preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension and affect 5-10% of Australian pregnancies. As well as being a major cause of short-term maternal and fetal/neonatal illness, there is strong evidence that women after HDP have increased risk of chronic disease including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes [1-6].

Prior research has identified knowledge gaps regarding health after HDP. Furthermore, the recommended follow-up after HDP to promote optimal long-term health outcomes for women is not routinely implemented throughout practice [7, 8].

Pilot implementation research is now underway aimed at building capacity amongst healthcare providers to implement evidence-based care after HDP. Informed by prior research and co-designed with GPs and hospital healthcare providers [8, 9], targeted education and strategies to improve the handover-of-care between tertiary and primary care have been implemented across maternity services across South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Local Health District.

At the Royal Hospital for Women, women who have experienced HDP will now receive an HDP-specific discharge referral letter and information leaflet. This encourages women to see their GP regularly after their pregnancy, including at 1 week, 6 weeks and 6 months after birth. Women will be instructed to provide this to GPs at the first postnatal follow-up appointment. This letter includes:

• Guidance regarding evidence-based short and long-term follow-up for women
• Guidance for women and GPs to promote long-term health outcomes
• Links to evidence-based resources go guide future care
  

See below for an example of the post-HDP specific discharge letter and information for GPs.

 GPs can also access the new SESLHD ‘post-HDP’ specific HealthPathway for a quick and easy access to background, assessment, management and referral information for all women following HDP (Postpartum Management of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: https://sesydney.communityhealthpathways.org).

 Our teams are committed to providing high-quality evidence-based care through collaboration with women, GPs and other dedicated healthcare professionals.

 If you have any questions regarding this initiative, please contact jennifer.e.green-1@student.uts.edu.au

Example post-HDP specific discharge letter and information for GPs here