ANSC SEPTEMBER 2024 update: RPA Women and Babies/Canterbury Hospital

HealthLink electronic referrals to Sydney LHD Antenatal Services

HealthLink eReferrals are available for antenatal services across all Sydney Local Health District facilities (RPA Women and Babies, Canterbury and Concord MGP). It is the expectation that all ANSC GPs are referring women via this method. HealthLink eReferrals support GPs to provide all relevant information, including relevant pathology and imaging results, to enable accurate triage.

It is now also possible for referrers to update existing referrals to antenatal services with additional information or pathology and imaging results following the submission of a referral. For more information on how to update a referral, please refer to the HealthLink Smartform user guides.

If you require any support with eReferrals to Sydney LHD, please contact the eReferral Project Team – SLHD-EReferralProject@health.nsw.gov.au or 0477 501 385

Urgent referrals to Sydney LHD Outpatient Services

All urgent referrals to Sydney Local Health District Outpatient Services, regardless of referral method (eReferral or fax), should be sent as a follow up to a telephone conversation with the on-call clinician for that service. Contact details for services or on-call clinicians can be found within HealthLink eReferral forms and on HealthPathways Sydney.

Anticipate – RPA antenatal clinic redesign

RPA continues to offer combined first trimester screening, accessible through a simple tick box on eReferral. This high-quality scan includes a comprehensive assessment of structural abnormalities, screening for risk of pre-eclampsia and risk of intrauterine growth restriction. Pregnant people/women who elect to have their cFTS here will receive their booking in visit on the same day.

Chlamydia

Reminder about the importance of screening for Chlamydia if the following risk factors are present: person is <29 years of age, new sexual partner, unexplained pelvic symptoms, has not had comprehensive sexual health screen.

My Toddler and Me

‘My Toddler and Me’ is a new free group-based program, run through Karitane, designed to support caregivers of toddler-aged children (12-24 months) in managing their children’s emotions and behaviours and responding more sensitively to their child’s needs.

Program details:

• 4-8 caregiver-toddler pairs in each group
• Eight 1.5-hour weekly sessions
• Locations: Kensington, Wolli Creek, Carramar, and Oran Park
• Run by experienced psychologists and child and family health nurses
• A mix of didactic teaching, group discussions, role-plays, and live coaching during parent-toddler play sessions
• Run as part of a research trial – all families randomly allocated to start in either the next round of groups (mid-October) or the following round (early February)

Caregivers can express their interest by email-mytoddlerandme@unsw.edu.au), phone 0468 913 713, or submitting an online form.

RPA Virtual Hospital Hyperemisis Gravidarum Care

The RPA Virtual Midwifery offers personalized support and management for women with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, reducing emergency department visits. Early referral to this service allows timely management to improve symptoms and quality of life.

In collaboration with Hospital in the Home (HITH) staff, women receive specialized care, including medication management, IV fluids, and access to dietetics, social work, and psychologists. Midwives provide virtual care through telehealth, follow-up calls, and digital surveys via the Go Share platform.

GPs are encouraged to refer eligible women to the RPA Virtual Midwifery Service via Health Pathways. Exclusions apply for those outside the Sydney Local Health District or not planning to birth at an SLHD facility. Click here for more information, or call RPA Virtual Midwives at 1800 325 065, option 3.

Case study

Mrs JC is a 32 year old female, presents with her partner at 7 weeks of pregnancy, feeling “desperate”.
Current health condition: JC is a Multip who has a high BMI of 50 and is experiencing ongoing vomiting 6-10 times per day, nausea for more than 6 hours a day, dry retching 3-4 times a day, poor oral intake, small fluid intake, limited foods tolerated, feeling fatigued and generally having a low mood.

View full case study

HealthPathways Sydney

The HealthPathways Sydney team have published several new and updated pathways including:

New pathways of note:            

• Smoking in Pregnancy
• Perinatal Loss

Updated and reviewed pathways of note:

• Maternal Postnatal Check
• Non-Urgent Gynaecology Assessment (including information on chronic pelvic pain services)
• Miscarriage and Ectopic Pregnancy

For program queries, please contact the team at slhd-healthpathways@health.nsw.gov.au

Routine clinical advice and support

Clinical Midwife Consultant (GP Shared Care)
Ph: 0425 230 662

• Chauncey Sjostedt (Monday-Tuesday, 8.00am-4.30pm)
• Melanie Tulloch (Wednesday-Friday, 8.00am-4.30pm) 

Note: GP Liaison Midwife is available for GP advice and support, contact details should not be provided to patients.