Shared Maternity Care
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What is the Antenatal Shared Maternity Care Program?
The GP Antenatal Shared Maternity Care Program is supported by the Maternity Unit Medical and Midwifery staff appointed by Ballarat Health Services. It is for low risk antenatal patients, with the aim of shared care being to improve the quality and continuity of care for these women.
Pre Referral Guidelines:
As the first antenatal visit may not occur until around 12 weeks gestation referring GPs are asked, in the best interests of their patients to please order the following ;
- First trimester combined screening test at 10-12 weeks, external to the hospital and forward copies of the results with the patient. This test is not routinely available within the hospital.
- Order the routine 18-22 week ultrasound for patients before their first attendance via Medical Imaging on 53 20 4270
- Order routine pathology before their attendance to enable early detection of any clinical issues needing follow up. Please give copies of results to your patient to bring to their initial hospital visit.
Once the woman has her pregnancy confirmed, the BHS referral should be faxed to 5320 4860 clearly indicating the intention to participate in the shared care maternity program. An antenatal appointment will then be made by phone. For low risk women the first visit is generally at 12-16 weeks gestation. Any test or ultrasounds required before this will need to be arranged by the GP.
Referring Doctors are asked to use the Victorian State-wide Referral Form (VSRF) Plus Maternity
Please note VRSF +Maternity is currently only available in the Medical Director 3 software. Inclusion in other medical software applications are planned – please refer to the VSRF link above.
Ballarat Health Services strongly recommends the use of the VSRF for all referrals to this hospital. When incorporated into your software, this form can autopopulate both demographic and clinical information which will assist in the management of your referral.
Vital information:
- up to date addresses
- telephone numbers for patients on referral forms, including mobile phone numbers.
- EDC or LNMP
- Height and weight (pre pregnancy or early pregnancy).
- Relevant medical and psychosocial information
Hospital visits for women in the shared care program occur at:
- Booking in – approximately 12-16 weeks
- 28 weeks
- 36 weeks
- 41 weeks – should the pregnancy proceed post term.
If a problem is detected during any stage of the pregnancy, the GP refers the woman to the hospital for additional consultation, either at the antenatal clinic or the Maternity Day Assessment Unit service depending on consultation with the Registrar. If the problem is ongoing, the woman may be transferred to hospital obstetric care.
Postnatal length of stay is usually two to three days after a normal birth, or four to five days after a caesarean section. Postnatal care and education, especially with breast feeding are provided and the services of a Lactation Consultant are available.
Following discharge, home visits from the Maternity extended postnatal service (Domiciliary midwifery-Domcare) are arranged within the first week for women living within an approximate 35 km radius of BHS. Women who reside outside this boundary, are offered a domiciliary midwifery visit by a local midwifery care provider. The Maternal and Child Health nurse contacts the womean usually in the second week post birth. Women are encouraged to take their new baby to their GP for post birth follow up at six weeks.
BHS Maternity Booking Protocol:
Please request patients to make their booking-in appointment by phone and not to present to the clinic.
Women are encouraged to bring copies of all pathology and ultrasound results to their Booking appointment. At the initial booking/clinic appointment:
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The patient will recieve their Victorian Maternity Record (VMR). The VMR is to be carried and presented to all visits. The patient will be asked to ensure all visits are recorded and copies of pathology/ultrasound investigations are either attached to the VMR or sent to the antenatal clinic to be filed in the patient’s history.
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A full medical, surgical and obstetric history summary will be recorded on the VMR, as well as any allergies and current medications.
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The Midwife/Doctor will initially assess the woman’s risk status to ensure the appropriate level of care.
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The shared care maternity program and BHS will be fully explained and appropriate information provided to the patient.
For any queries regarding booking or antenatal processes please contact Sue McRae on 03 5320 4971
Antenatal Clinic Visit Schedule
Private Care
If the patient wishes to be a private patient, a GP referral to a Private Obstetrician is required. Care will then be provided by that Practitioner. Whilst every effort is made to allocate a private room to private patients, this is not always possible and is not guaranteed. Patients may choose to use their private insurance for a private room whilst utilizing public obstetric care.
Clinical Investigations
GP Shared Care- Antenatal Screening Investigations
Shared Care -Understanding Antenatal Screening Tests
GP Shared Care – Inclusion and Exclusion criteria
Shared Care Maternity Care Program Wheel- Currently being developed.
Further Information
Combined First Trimester Screen and Maternal Serum Screening Test
RANZCOG statement on Prenatal screening tests for Trisomy 18, 21 & NTD
Better Health Fact Sheet Maternal Serum Screening
Victorian Clinical Genetic Services Website
For further information on routine antenatal tests GPs should refer to the 3 Centres Guidelines on Antental Care.
GP Fact Sheet on the Victorian Maternity Record
For information on the fact sheet click here
Cystic Fibrosis Screening
CF Carrier Testing Poster
GP Flow Chart
GP Newsletter information
