ANSC November 2020 Update: Royal Hospital for Women

Contact details for RHW

For clinical or general ANSC advice, please contact ANSC Liaison Midwife Chantelle du Boisee:

Monday and Tuesday 8.00am-5.30pm

Phone – 9382 6016

Mobile – 0417 995 153 (Monday –Friday 8.00-4.30)

Email – Chantelle.duBoisee@health.nsw.gov.au

If you need to speak directly to the Obstetric Doctors please ph.9382 6111 and ask switch to page the on-call Obstetric Registrar. For more urgent 24hr advice, contact Delivery Suite ph. 0439 869 035 (from 20 weeks pregnancy).  

Revision of antenatal visit schedule: in response to COVID-19

Please review the following documents as guidance for antenatal care with RHW Royal Hospital fduring this time:

  • Click here for the revised antenatal schedule of visits (Sept 20)
  • Click here for inpatient management of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection
  • Click here for letter provided to women about inpatient visitors

Earlier this year, in response to the COVID 19, RHW changed its screening for GDM. RHW has now returned to the normal practice of screening for GDM.

  • Click here to view GDM screening policy

Booking in visit

 Please advise women to book online via RHW website at ~ 6 weeks gestation. The booking in visit will generally be attended between 14-16 weeks gestation.

  • Click here for booking in processes

If your patient needs a more urgent Obstetrician/and or Medical Physician review, please fax the referral to 9382 6118.

Important changes with the booking process during COVID-19:

  • Booking visits are via telehealth video appointment
  • The GP is NOT required to complete the yellow card as this will be completed by the booking in midwife. The card will be mailed directly to the woman after the booking is completed.
  • Complete the entire RHW antenatal referral form. Please fax, together with antenatal pathology, ultrasound results and any other relevant results to RHW Outpatients Department prior to the booking visit. Fax: 9382 6118.
  • Documents for the booking visit can be emailed to SESLHD-RHWOPDRESULTS@health.nsw.gov.au (please send as one document)

Medical Disorders in Pregnancy Clinic

Referrals to medical physicians at the Medical Disorders in Pregnancy Clinic must be addressed to Professor Sandra Lowe/Dr Amanda Beech. The patient will be contacted directly to arrange an appointment. 

Clinic Time: Thursday afternoons.  Fax referrals: 9382 6118. 

Complex Preconception Clinic 

The clinic is a free specialist service for women planning a pregnancy with a history of complex conditions.

The clinic is run once /month via telehealth, and we currently have capacity to review only 3-4 women per month. Waiting periods are commonly 2-3 months

To bill correctly, please direct your referral to Dr Amanda Beech, Dr Antonia Shand and Dr Debra Kennedy

  • Click here for information brochure

Accessing Local Operating Procedures

  • Click here to access useful clinical policies, procedures and guidelines at RHW.

Newly reviewed local operating procedures:

  • Anaemia and haemoglobinopathies in pregnancy
  • Iron Deficiency – management in maternity and gynaecology/oncology patients
  • Obesity and weight in pregnancy, labour and postpartum

Other

Reminder: 20 week GP visit 

  • Click here for a reminder of essential information for the 20 week’s visit.

Physiotherapy Department

The Women’s Health Physiotherapy department continues to stay open.

  • Click here for referral form
  • Click here forreferral flowchart 

They continue to see most patients face to face but also offer Telehealth appointments (if appropriate) They will also be delivering group education via PEXIP and an update will be provided when available. 

Antenatal GP shared care brochures

If you require brochures, contact the ANSC GP Liaison Midwife on ph.9382 6016. These brochures are also mailed out to the woman in the booking pack when the booking appointment is made. 

Genetic counselling 

Please ensure that you are familiar with the RHW Genetic Counselling policy. A flowchart at the end of this policy is helpful with navigating the correct referral pathway.

  • Click here for Genetic Counselling policy

Important reminder: Women referred for a NIPT (from 10 weeks gestation) must also be referred for a Structural NT Ultrasound at 12-14 weeks gestation.

Any woman who receives an increased risk aneuploidy screening result (cFTS or NIPT) or has a structural anomaly detected on ultrasound can be referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department at RHW. They will be offered genetic counselling, a repeat ultrasound, a consultation with a maternal fetal medicine specialist and prenatal diagnostic testing (such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling), if appropriate. All these consultations will be covered by Medicare.

  • For GPs to arrange or discuss a referral : ph ‘Fetus Phone’ 0437 537 448  (Mon-Fri 9am- 4pm).
  • For patient enquiries ph. 9382 6098 

Maternal discharge summary 

The RHW will be providing two copies of the eMaternity Maternal Discharge Summary to women on their discharge home. A copy will be placed in the blue book and another copy given to the woman for her ANSC GP.


It is important to understand that the eMaternity Discharge Summary is a summary of the woman’s antenatal, birth and postnatal care. It is not a medical discharge. Women with medical /surgical complications will be provided with a medical discharge by one of our medical obstetrics team if required.

Medical and Midwifery staff will also endeavour to inform the ANSC GP of any adverse outcomes i.e. Stillbirth/Neonatal Death/Severe Prematurity.