Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service (WANDAS)
Welcome to Country
We are happy to welcome you to our hospital caring for women and babies on Nyoongar country.
"Ngaala djoorap wandjoo noonook ngaalak walbrininy kaalak kindoowaliny yoka maawit Nyoongar boodja"
Translation was provided by Mrs Olive Woods
The Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service is the only tertiary state-wide service providing specialist clinical services and professional support to care for pregnant women with drug and alcohol dependence.
We use a multidisciplinary team approach to improve the health and well-being of the women and their babies.
What we do
We provide support, care and information for pregnant women with alcohol and drug dependency. Our midwifery-led team is based at King Edward Memorial Hospital and work alongside doctors, addiction specialist, drug and alcohol specialist midwife social workers, dieticians and mental health professionals to ensure patients receive the highest level of care possible.
We routinely care for women with highly complex medical, social and psychiatric conditions.
We also provide an outreach service to the Women's prison to provide pregnancy outreach care.
Our team - multidisciplinary support
The WANDAS work closely with the following KEMH departments:
- Psychological Medicine
- Social Work
- Parent education
Referrals will be made for you by the WANDAS clinic staff.
Psychological Medicine
The Department of Psychological Medicine specialises in women's mental health. We assess and help treat patients of KEMH whose medical condition is affecting their emotional health, or whose emotional health is affecting their medical condition. You (or your baby) must be a patient of KEMH or you must have delivered your baby at KEMH to qualify for access to services. Services are available for up to six months after discharge or clinic attendance and for up to one year for parents of babies hospitalized in the Special Care Nursery.
Referrals to the Department of Psychological Medicine will be made for you by the WANDAS clinic staff.
Social Work
The Social Work Department support patients and their families to cope with illness, pregnancy and hospital care (inpatient or outpatient).
The staff members include professionally trained Social Workers, an Aboriginal Liaison Officer and a Senior Welfare Assistant.
Parent Education
The KEMH Parent Education midwives offer a number of classes to assist in preparing for the birth of your baby, ongoing care and the transition to parenthood.
For information about their Antenatal and Open House classes, please call the team directly on (08) 6458 1368 between Monday and Friday, 8.00am to 9am, or 3.00pm to 4.00pm (except Wednesdays). Please note that bookings are essential.