Antenatal Referrals
Obstetrics Services at WNHS KEMH
The Obstetric Service at WNHS provides maternity care for women residing in both the catchment area of KEMH and Osborne Park Hospital, as well as for women across Western Australia requiring specialist obstetric care.
WNHS offers all models of maternity care to women living in the WNHS catchment area, as well as tertiary level maternity services to women across Western Australia. To facilitate appropriate triage and allocation of clinic appointments there are specific requirements for referrals that are detailed below.
To enable appropriate triage, it is requested that referrals for antenatal care are sent early in the pregnancy with detailed information and copies of investigations as outlined below. Referrals from GPs are sent directly to the WNHS Referral Co-ordinator.
Antenatal Referrals
- All Antenatal Referrals should be sent directly to WNHS for patients who reside in the WNHS catchment area, or for those women requiring tertiary care from across Western Australia.
- Please do not send Antenatal Referrals to Central Referral Service.
- All referrals will be triaged for suitability and telehealth appointments will be offered, where appropriate, for all women referred, regardless of location.
The exception to this are direct referrals to the Community Midwifery Program or the Family Birth Centre.
Referral process
Detailed information regarding the models of maternity care and referral pathways are provided below. For referrals that are sent to WNHS directly:
- use the KEMH Antenatal Referral form (PDF) if possible, or GPs own referral template ensuring detailed patient information is included as well as required test results.
- Provide copies of all first trimester investigations with the antenatal referral form, or after referral with a cover letter detailing tests attached.
- Send direct to WNHS Referral Co-Ordinator via:
Email: KEMH.Referrals@health.wa.gov.au
In Subject line write “Antenatal Referral, Patient Surname”
Fax: (08) 6458 1031
Healthlink: not yet available
Routine antenatal referrals
Refer low risk antenatal patients to their local maternity service based on their postcode of residence. KEMH is the local maternity service for women living within the following postcodes: 6000, 6001, 6003 to 6013, 6014 (Jolimont, Floreat, Wembley), 6015, 6016 (Glendalough, Mount Hawthorn), 6050 (Mount Lawley), 6051, 6052 (Bedford), 6053, 6062, 6907 (UWA, Karakatta and Kings Park).
For all women (including low risk women) who are referred to WNHS, the booking visit is usually at 14 to 18 weeks’ gestation, so please refer early, before 12 weeks’ gestation if possible. This appointment may be conducted via telephone / telehealth.
If the referring practitioner is unsure if a woman’s pregnancy is low or high risk, please refer to the local maternity service which will assess the referral and forward on to WNHS if required.
All secondary maternity services (except Bentley Health Service) are able to accept women with a BMI up to 40 +/- weight of 120 kg.
High risk women, requiring Tertiary Care
High risk antenatal patients may be referred directly to WNHS at KEMH Antenatal Obstetric Services via direct referral process. Please clearly indicate on the referral the concerns and refer early as these women may need to be reviewed before 14 weeks’ gestation. This includes women who reside outside the WNHS catchment area who require tertiary level care.
Urgent obstetric referrals (women who require review within 24 to 48 hours)
Ring WNHS at KEMH Switchboard on (08) 6458 2222 and ask for:
<20 weeks’ gestation, the KEMH Gynaecology Registrar on call
>20 weeks’ gestation, the KEMH Obstetric Registrar on call
Urgent antenatal referrals for women requiring review within 7 days
If the woman resides within WNHS catchment area, the GP should contact the WNHS at KEMH Clinical Midwifery Nurse Manager (Ambulatory Services) on 0466 796 797 or via WNHS at KEMH Switchboard (08) 6458 2222.
If the woman resides outside WNHS catchment area, the GP is to contact their local maternity service first to discuss the referral.
Antenatal care required before booking visit
General practitioners (GP) provide routine antenatal care from diagnosis of pregnancy until the WNHS booking visit at 14 to 18 weeks gestation.
GPs are expected to discuss and arrange the recommended first trimester investigations for all pregnancies. This includes:
- routine first trimester antenatal blood tests
- discussing and offering fetal anomaly screening including ultrasound at 10 to 13 week’s gestation
- arranging fetal anatomy ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks’ gestation
- forwarding copies of all results to the KEMH Referral Co-ordinator
Please refer to the National Pregnancy Care Guideline (external site) and Statewide Shared Maternity Care Guidelines (PDF) for further information and WNHS First Trimester GP Required Investigations
When the GP participates in a Shared Antenatal Care program, the GP may provide routine antenatal care to women with low risk pregnancies until 36 weeks’ gestation in partnership with WNHS at KEMH. Should any problems arise during the pregnancy the woman is to be referred back to WNHS at KEMH for ongoing antenatal care.
Further information on antenatal shared care can be found on the GP antenatal shared care page.