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Antenatal Shared Care Services

The new ANSC GP Resource Manual v6 (2011) is now available. Please contact Karen Wheeler for your preferred format

Project Officer: Karen Wheeler

Main: 9799 0933

For RPA Women and Babies and The Canterbury Hospital ANSC program enquiries, contact Karen Wheeler

GP Liaison Midwife: Clare Jordan
Phone: 0425 230 662

    The GP Liaison Midwife assists with the co-ordination of the ANSC program by:
  • Conducting ANSC orientation sessions for new GPs joining the program
  • Supports GPs in accessing maternity hospital services and answering telephone enquires
  • Provides the interface for feedback and improved communication between the hospital and GPs
  • Liaises with CSGPN to ensure policies, procedures and clinical practice guidelines ratified by the Maternity Services Advisory Committee are distributed to ANSC GPs
  • Assists CSGPN in the co-ordination of the CPD education program and by maintaining the ANSC data entry of GPs.

Quick link reference list
Orientation to ANSC Program
Hospital Referral Postcodes
Hospital Booking Process
Hospital Clinics & Services
Preconception Planning
ANSC Protocol
Group B Streptococcus
Genetic Counselling
Pregnancy Assessment
Risk Management
Postpartum Assessment and Management
Referral Forms
Patient Information
Online education
Translated Information
Useful Website Links

Program overview

Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) is an option of care provided collaboratively by the GP and the hospital-based maternity services. It is offered to all pregnant women assessed as suitable throughout the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD).

The ANSC program is a joint initiative of:

  • Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) maternity facilities located at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Women and Babies and The Canterbury Hospital
  • Central Sydney GP Network (CSGPN)

The program is also offered at other South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLD) facilities: Bankstown,Fairfield, Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals in conjunction with Bankstown GP Divison and Sydney South West GP Link.

Orientation to the Antenatal Shared Care Program

Hospital Referral Postcodes

There is a restricted access by residential postcode for women with low risk pregnancy to book for delivery at RPA Women and Babies and The Canterbury Hospitals. The postcode access areas for each facility are listed below:

Women requiring complex or specialised care who live outside the suburbs covered by RPA Antenatal Clinic may be referred to RPA by their doctor. A letter of request is to be sent to the Director of O&G at RPA Women and Babies.

RPA Women and Babies Booking Process

RPA First Antenatal Clinic Visit
A woman is required to book either on-line or by fax through the RPA Women and Babies website. Access to the on-line form is via “Information for Pregnant Women”. The First Antenatal Visit Booking Form may also be printed and faxed to 9515 3454.

Access to Medical Director and Best Practice templates of the RPA Women and Babies First Antenatal Visit Booking Form

Antenatal Clinic Booking Follow up
Hospital staff will contact the woman via mail ( ~2 weeks) with an appointment date.

Delivery Booking Process
All women need to book their bed for delivery after 20 weeks gestation (usually soon after the obstetric review visit). The woman will need to take her yellow card and registration form to the RPA Medical Centre Suite 210, Level 2, cnr Carillon Ave and Missenden Rd.

The Booking Office is open from 7.30am till 5.00pm Monday - Friday

Canterbury Hospital Maternity Booking Process

For appointment bookings contact the Antenatal Clinic ph 9787 0250 ( Mon-Fri 9.00am - 4.30pm)

Hospital Clinics and Services

Fetal Medicine Department RPA Women and Babies
The Fetal Medicine Department has introduced a paging system to assist GPs in contacting the Fetal Medicine Department for urgent matters.

Contact RPA Hospital on ph 9515 6111 Pager # 81668

The paging system is to be used to access urgent ultrasound bookings, urgent ultrasound reports, second opinions or if advice is required from a Fetal Medicine Specialist. The service will operate between Monday and Friday from 7.00am-3.30pm. If the pager is not answered please contact the Department on 9515 6042.

The Canterbury Hospital

Preconception Planning

Antenatal Shared Care Protocol


Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Information


Genetics Counselling
The Fetal Medicine Unit at RPA Women and Babies offers Nuchal Translucency Screening with biochemistry to all pregnant women booking at RPA and Canterbury Hospitals. Shared care GPs who have attended the introductory information session through the Central Sydney GP Network on “options of prenatal screening/testing” can refer women directly to the Fetal Medicine Unit at RPA Women and Babies on 9515 6042 or 9515 8258.

GPs who have not attended this session have the option of referring women to the genetic counselling clinics at RPA Hospital on 9515 7101 and Canterbury Hospital on 9787 0183.

This resource booklet is used by Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) Genetic Services when discussing options for prenatal screening and testing. Copies of the ” Prenatal Testing” booklet are available from CSGPN. Additional information on a range of genetic matters can be accessed from The Centre for Genetics Education and the National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC.

Pregnancy Assessment

Early Pregnancy Assessment Service

Perinatal Mental Health

Risk Management

Gestational Diabetes Management

Postpartum Assessment and Management

Perinatal Mental Health

Referral Forms

Best Practice & Medical Director Forms

Patient Information

Parent Education Classes

RPA Women and Babies/The Canterbury Hospital

Early Pregnancy Assessment Service

Gestational Diabetes

Postnatal Contacts

Online Education Options

Translated Information

Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) ANSC Protocol

Preparation for GTT (various languages)

Vitamin D information for pregnant women and new mothers

Useful Website Links

  • RANZCOG:Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obsetricians and Gynaecologists
  • ADIPS:Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society
  • GDM Recipes:Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Recipes:Dietitian reviewed
  • beyondblue: :Information on antenatal and postnatal depression
  • Gidget Foundation: Raising awareness of perinatal anxiety and depression
  • PANDA: Post and Antenatal Depression Association Inc
  • St John of God Hospital: Mental Health Services: Mother and baby unit
  • Centre for Genetic Education: NSW Health : Centre for Genetics Education
  • Mothersafe: Counselling service regarding medications and/or exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Sids and Kids: Breavement support, education and advocacy for families who have experienced the unexpected loss of a baby or child
  • NSW Multicultural Health:Multicultural Health Communication Service: resources available bty topic and language
  • ASHM:Comprehensive directory of health services relating to HIV, viral hepatitis and related areas