Antenatal Shared Care
Project Officer -
Dianne Deschamps ph 8752 4923
GP Liaison Midwife - Audrey Lee ph 0425 230 662
For Bankstown enquiries contact Bankstown General Practice Division on: ph 9793 8711
Program overview
The goal of the Antenatal Shared Care program (ANSC) is to provide a high and uniform standard of care to pregnant women throughout Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS).
Antenatal Shared Care is an option offered to all women assessed as suitable for shared care. Care is provided collaboratively by the GP and the hospital-based services.
The program aims to:
- provide pregnant women with flexibility, choice and continuity of care.
- cater for the preferences and needs of women from a diverse range of cultural and religious backgrounds.
- enhance the skills of GPs caring for women during pregnancy.
- promote communication between GPs and the participating hospitals.
The ANSC program is a joint initiative of:
- SSWAHS facilities of Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital Mothers and Babies as well as Bankstown and Canterbury
- Central Sydney GP Network
- Bankstown Division of General Practice
The program is also offered at other SSWAHS facilities: Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals in conjunction with Sydney South West GP Network, Liverpool and Macarthur Divisions of General Practice.
Becoming an ANSC Accredited provider
To become an Accredited ANSC provider an application form has to be completed and returned to either Central Sydney GP Network or to Bankstown General Practice Division. Specific detail has to be provided by the applicant on whether they have been an ANSC provider previously or the experience they have had in caring for pregnant women. The application will then be accessed and appropriate orientation organized for each applicant. In addition to orientation there will a further education session to be completed in the first year of becoming a provisional accredited ANSC provider.
The applicant may also be required to agree to a criminal record check being undertaken by SSWAHS depending on the orientation to be provided.
GPs who apply to become accredited ANSC providers have to also agree to become a member of the relevant Division of General Practice.
GP Registrars may also apply but they have to be supervised by an accredited ANSC provider.
The application once accepted will also be submitted to the SSWAHS Medical and Dental Appointment and Credentialing Committee for ratification as an Affiliated Medical Officer.
Maintaining ANSC Accreditation
Each accredited ANSC provider is required to complete three specific antenatal events in each triennium period with attendance at a clinical event being highly recommended. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) triennium commences in 2008 through to 2010. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the GP’s name being removed from the list of accredited ANSC providers.
A calendar of ANSC events is produced each year and will be circulated to all ANSC providers.
For attendance at clinical ANSC events the GP will be requested to give permission to SSWAHS for completion of a criminal record check and for a clinical attachment a working with children check as well.
Program service requirements
RPA Mothers and Babies, Bankstown and Canterbury Hospitals have restricted access by postcode for women with low risk pregnancy, the postcode areas for each facility are:
Information on the clinic profiles at each facility and key contact numbers are included in the ANSC resource information and contacts.
Women may also book online into RPA Mothers and Babies.
Program clinical requirements
A Preconception Checklist has been developed for GPs to utilise when offering advice and support to women considering pregnancy.
If a woman has difficulties early in her pregnancy she may be referred to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS).
All shared care providers work to an agreed uniform ANSC protocol, this protocol is also available in the following community languages:
Genetics Counselling education is provided by SSWAHS on a regular basis, after completion of the training an ANSC GP may provide genetics counselling particularly for women in the 30 -35 year age range.The Fetal Medicine Unit will only accept women in that age group for Nuchal Translucency Screening if the GP is endorsed to provide the counselling. A resource booklet is provided by SSWAHS to ANSC GPs who undergo the training. Additional information on a range of genetic matters can be accessed from The Centre for Genetics Education.
There are a range of Clinical Trials often being undertaken particularly at RPA Mothers and Babies. Current trials include:
Risk management guidelines
To assist in the management of the pregnant women there are a number of risk management pathways as well as advice on other issues that may arise during a women’s pregnancy, these are all included in the ANSC resource folder which is regularly updated and circulated to all accredited ANSC GPs. Key resource documents include: