Annual Maternity Shared Care Symposium

In May, the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN was joined by over 70 GPs, midwives, GP registrars, junior doctors and other health professionals working in antenatal care at our Annual Maternity Shared Care Symposium.

The symposium was held in-person in Toowoomba and Springfield, and online, and included several presentations and continued the joint discussion on how we can better align antenatal care services in our region.

The event covered crucial information for GPs - from preconception counselling, including genetics, through to the seven-day health check and beyond, with a focus on:

• The importance of screening for genetic disorders and teratogenic medication preconceptually and ensuring adequate contraception in place if pregnancy not planned.
• For GP shared care referral to include a full assessment, history and routine bloods including rising HCG and a dating scan- See First consult on HealthPathways
• Ensuring HealthPathways is the best resource for GPs to keep up to date with latest GP guidelines for prescribing supplementation for prevention of pre-eclampsia and treating short cervical length - videos from the day will be available on HealthPathways.

Other key takeaways from the day included:

• Shared care is a valued model in our region and the more GPs on board the better
• Obstetrics care is now trying to get all women/bubs to 39 weeks and not 37 as a previous minimum. A lot of important growing happens in those last couple of weeks.
• Gestational diabetes can have long term consequences and it’s important to keep monitoring mums at least every two (2) years, not just in the initial six weeks.
• Mums and bubs may be discharged as early as 8 hours after birth so some conditions may not be picked up at that time. There are some important checks to now do at the 7-day check – an appointment should be made for both the mother and the baby.

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN CEO Lucille Chalmers said the event reflected the PHN’s commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing outcomes of mothers and children benefit from additional support during pregnancy and the first few years after birth.

“This collective approach facilitates communication, trust, and decision-making pathways to support health professionals to collaboratively provide safe, woman-centred maternity care.”

GPs interested in more information on Shared Care can contact Dr Tanusha Ramaloo, the PHN GPLO, via practicesupport@ddwmphn.com.au.