Antenatal Care

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

Referrals should be completed and forwarded as soon as possible.  Please highlight specific concerns that may require triage to specialty clinics or more urgent appointments.

All referrals should comply with the Referral Standards and specifically include:

  • Gestation - LMP and EDD , Gravidity and Parity
  • Highlight abnormal investigations or clinical concern
  • Past medical and obstetric history
  • Note outcome of discussion of aneuploidy screening/dating
  • Medications
  • Co-morbidities
  • Physical examination including mandatory Height, Weight and BP
  • Smoking, alcohol and other drug history
  • Allergies
  • Whether an interpreter is required
  • Social and cultural needs or concerns
  • Indicate if a perinatal and mental health referral is required
  • An indication of the mother’s preferred model of care (midwifery/GP/Specialist).

Tests

Must include as a minimum:

  • FBE
  • Blood group and antibodies
  • Rubella Titre
  • Hep B & C serology
  • MSU
  • Syphilis serology
  • HIV serology
  • Chlamydia (North, North West)
  • Fasting BSL (if no risk factors) or Early GTT if risk factors/clinical need
  • Results of any ultrasound and indicate if aneuploidy screening is arranged or if patient declines
  • If clinically indicated include Vit D, Hb electrophoresis, TFT, Chlamydia testing (South)

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Obstetrics clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Options for care include:

  • Midwifery care models
  • GP Shared care - At the first appointment the GP should explain the obstetric shared care protocols, including the timing and nature of the antenatal visits shared between the participating hospital and GP.
  • Collaborative care models including, high risk clinic, complex care, obstetric endocrine and general antenatal doctors clinic.

South

Information about available maternity services in the South can be found on the Tasmanian Department of Health website (Pregnancy, Birth and Early Parenting)

North West

The THS deliver Antenatal and Extended Care Midwifery Services to the North West Regional Hospital and the Mersey Community Hospital with inpatient and birthing services provided by the North West Private Hospital and the Launceston General Hospital.

There are midwifery, obstetric, gynaecology and extended care midwifery services delivered to King Island, West Coast and Smithton.

North West currently does not have the option of GP shared care.

Consider descriptors from North and North West

For more information please see:

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Emergency

Signs of severe pre-eclampsia

North West Private Hospital - Phone: (03) 6432 6031

Urgent / category 1

Late gestation referral

Advanced maternal age

Diabetes

Semi-urgent / category 2

Previous complications of pregnancy

Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine:

Next available appointment