SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care Program

Share SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care Program on Facebook Share SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care Program on Twitter Share SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care Program on Linkedin Email SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care Program link

Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) is an option offered to all pregnant women who are assessed as suitable for the program. Care is provided collaboratively by the general practitioner (GP) and the hospital-based service.

The ANSC program aims to:

  • Provide pregnant women with flexibility, choice, and continuity of care
  • Cater for the preferences and needs of women from culturally and diverse backgrounds
  • Enhance the skills of GPs caring for women during pregnancy
  • Promote communication between GPs and the participating hospitals

To provide ANSC to pregnant women who are giving birth in South West Sydney Local Health District hospitals, GPs must be recognised as an ANSC provider. To become a recognised provider, a GP completes the application and attends a mandatory ANSC orientation session.

To maintain ANSC recognition GPs must complete 3 hours of pregnancy-related continuous professional development (CPD) each year. Evidence of CPD attendance is to be provided to SWSPHN.


The February 2024 issue of the Baby Monitor is now available

Issue 20 of the Baby Monitor, the SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care newsletter, is now available to download. You can access it here or from the newsletter folder in the documents section.


Quick Link to HealthPathways

Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) is an option offered to all pregnant women who are assessed as suitable for the program. Care is provided collaboratively by the general practitioner (GP) and the hospital-based service.

The ANSC program aims to:

  • Provide pregnant women with flexibility, choice, and continuity of care
  • Cater for the preferences and needs of women from culturally and diverse backgrounds
  • Enhance the skills of GPs caring for women during pregnancy
  • Promote communication between GPs and the participating hospitals

To provide ANSC to pregnant women who are giving birth in South West Sydney Local Health District hospitals, GPs must be recognised as an ANSC provider. To become a recognised provider, a GP completes the application and attends a mandatory ANSC orientation session.

To maintain ANSC recognition GPs must complete 3 hours of pregnancy-related continuous professional development (CPD) each year. Evidence of CPD attendance is to be provided to SWSPHN.


The February 2024 issue of the Baby Monitor is now available

Issue 20 of the Baby Monitor, the SWSPHN Antenatal Shared Care newsletter, is now available to download. You can access it here or from the newsletter folder in the documents section.


Quick Link to HealthPathways
  • Measuring your outcomes for antenatal and postnatal care with RACGPSI Chair Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung

    Share Measuring your outcomes for antenatal and postnatal care with RACGPSI Chair Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung on Facebook Share Measuring your outcomes for antenatal and postnatal care with RACGPSI Chair Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung on Twitter Share Measuring your outcomes for antenatal and postnatal care with RACGPSI Chair Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung on Linkedin Email Measuring your outcomes for antenatal and postnatal care with RACGPSI Chair Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung link

    FREE CPD Event:

    Meeting your Measuring Outcomes CPD hours can feel daunting and complex, but it doesn't need to be.

    During this webinar RACGPSI Antenatal and Postnatal Chair, Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung, will provide ideas of practical quality improvements that you can implement into your practice.

    Dr Cheung will explore examples of key criteria that you can focus on, allowing you to better support your patients during and after pregnancy.

    For further information and to register please visit the RACGP Event page.

  • Cervical Screening during pregnancy

    Share Cervical Screening during pregnancy on Facebook Share Cervical Screening during pregnancy on Twitter Share Cervical Screening during pregnancy on Linkedin Email Cervical Screening during pregnancy link
    supporting image

    The NSW Cervical Screening Program has developed a new resource in collaboration with the Cervical Screening During Pregnancy Project Working Group. The purpose is to provide up-to-date cervical screening information to all healthcare providers who work with women during pregnancy care.

    The full presentation can be found here.

    For National Cervical Screening Program resources visit here.

    For Family Planning Australia training courses, including provision of clinician-collected and self-collected samples visit here.

  • ANSC Information Update and Skills Day

    Share ANSC Information Update and Skills Day on Facebook Share ANSC Information Update and Skills Day on Twitter Share ANSC Information Update and Skills Day on Linkedin Email ANSC Information Update and Skills Day link

    Click the image to register.

  • 2023: GPSC in Review

    Share 2023: GPSC in Review on Facebook Share 2023: GPSC in Review on Twitter Share 2023: GPSC in Review on Linkedin Email 2023: GPSC in Review link


  • NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns- 'Policy in a Pinch'

    Share NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns- 'Policy in a Pinch' on Facebook Share NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns- 'Policy in a Pinch' on Twitter Share NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns- 'Policy in a Pinch' on Linkedin Email NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns- 'Policy in a Pinch' link

    The below is a summary only of the NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns policy guideline and the Syphilis HealthPathway. Both the full policy guideline and HealthPathway should be revised. The full policy is found here. The full Syphilis HealthPathway is found here.

  • SWSLHD Vitamin D & Pregnancy 'Policy in a Pinch'

    Share SWSLHD Vitamin D & Pregnancy 'Policy in a Pinch' on Facebook Share SWSLHD Vitamin D & Pregnancy 'Policy in a Pinch' on Twitter Share SWSLHD Vitamin D & Pregnancy 'Policy in a Pinch' on Linkedin Email SWSLHD Vitamin D & Pregnancy 'Policy in a Pinch' link

    SWSLHD has released a district-wide policy guideline on Vitamin D Screening and Management for pregnancy. The below is a summary only and the full policy guideline should be revised. The full policy is found here in the 'Protocols, Policies and Guidelines' folder.

  • Birthing on Country: What does birthing on country mean to you?

    Share Birthing on Country: What does birthing on country mean to you? on Facebook Share Birthing on Country: What does birthing on country mean to you? on Twitter Share Birthing on Country: What does birthing on country mean to you? on Linkedin Email Birthing on Country: What does birthing on country mean to you? link

    Featuring interviews filmed during the Best Start to Life 2022 National Gathering at Mparntwe (Alice Springs) alongside breath-taking Australian landscapes, this educational documentary explores the many meanings of Birthing on Country.


    The video 'What does birthing on country mean to you?' has been developed through the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre. For more information on birthing on Country and other work developed through the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, visit: Birthing on Country or Charles Darwin University.

  • NEW online learning module: Introduction to Syphilis for Clinicians providing antenatal care // NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns Guideline

    Share NEW online learning module: Introduction to Syphilis for Clinicians providing antenatal care // NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns Guideline on Facebook Share NEW online learning module: Introduction to Syphilis for Clinicians providing antenatal care // NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns Guideline on Twitter Share NEW online learning module: Introduction to Syphilis for Clinicians providing antenatal care // NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns Guideline on Linkedin Email NEW online learning module: Introduction to Syphilis for Clinicians providing antenatal care // NSW Health Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns Guideline link

    Over the last year, there has been considerable discussion around the rise in syphilis cases in New South Wales, and more broadly across Australia. Clinicians have seen Safety Alerts released via the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) outlining the need to increase syphilis screening during pregnancy, and education via South West Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) targeting syphilis and congenital syphilis. NSW Health has now released a formal guideline for Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns. To support the policy guideline, the AHSM has developed a 1-hour online module for clinicians who provide antenatal care.

    To access the online learning module, simply click the image below and register.



    In August, a webinar event was recorded on the topic. Dr Chris Carmody (Staff Specialist for Sexual Health at Liverpool Hospital), Dr Michelle Dunn (Maternal Fetal Medicine Subspecialty Trainee- Liverpool Hospital) and Cherie Bennet (Clinical Nurse Consultant) from AHSM presented information and case studies on the topics of syphilis and congenital syphils. The video can be viewed below or via the SWSPHN Youtube channel.


    The link for the online module will continue to be available via the online CPD tab within the ANSC Healthchat. Additionally, the link to the policy guideline will also continue to be available via the Protocols, Policies and Guidelines tab.

    The gold standard resource for perinatal infecion management is the current edition of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) guidelines Management of Perinatal Infections.

  • Virtual Event: Substance Use in Pregnancy Service

    Share Virtual Event: Substance Use in Pregnancy Service on Facebook Share Virtual Event: Substance Use in Pregnancy Service on Twitter Share Virtual Event: Substance Use in Pregnancy Service on Linkedin Email Virtual Event: Substance Use in Pregnancy Service link

    Registration for this event here.

    Event awards:

  • Safer Baby Bundle Update

    Share Safer Baby Bundle Update on Facebook Share Safer Baby Bundle Update on Twitter Share Safer Baby Bundle Update on Linkedin Email Safer Baby Bundle Update link

    According to the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (Stillbirth CRE) the stillbirth rate in Australia is higher than other top performing countries . In many cases stillbirth is preventable and research shows 20-30% of late gestation stillbirths could be avoided with better care , which has led to the Stillbirth CRE to develop a national initiative with five evidence-based elements to address key areas where improved practice can reduce the number of stillborn babies . The Safer Baby Bundle (SBB) consists of 5 target areas which can be modified in order to reduce the risk of stillbirth :

    General Practitioners (GP) are well placed to be:

    • initiating early risk assessments for FGR,

    • providing counsel and support for women identified as requiring smoking cessation advice and referral,

    • providing education to women about normal fetal movements, when to be concerned and what to do when concerned regarding fetal movements.

    • Provide education around safe maternal sleeping positions such as side sleeping during pregnancy.

    The SBB online modules are compulsory for ANSC Recognised Providers. The modules include resource videos for clinicians as well as resources and waiting room videos. A short, GP specific video has been developed- click to watch.

    The video below is a recent update from the Stillbirth CRE regarding the SBB progress.


Page last updated: 22 Apr 2024, 04:49 PM