Antenatal Shared Care Archives

30 July 2024

A new registration renewal process for GP Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) providers starts in August 2024 and aims to create a more efficient, structured process for tracking and auditing CPD hours.

GPs wanting to maintain their registration as an ANSC provider must still complete three hours of eligible CPD and now also complete a short, online form by 31 October each year, to retain their registration.

Eligible CPD includes CPD on various antenatal topics delivered both face-to-face and online throughout the year by SWSPHN’s CPD team. It can also include external CPD from a recognised provider.

Key points for the new process include:

ANSC registration renewal will take place annually, with three hours of ANSC CPD to be completed between 1 November and 31 October each year.
GPs will be emailed a unique link to an online registration renewal form each August/September, seeking confirmation by 31 October they want to remain an ANSC provider for the following year, and declaring they have completed three hours of eligible CPD in the set timeframe, and accepting the terms of being a ANSC provider.
The form will take approximately three minutes to complete.
The new registration renewal process begins this year (2024), and ANSC providers will be emailed their unique link early next month (August).

The ANSC program enables women in our region who are expected to have a low-risk pregnancy to receive most of their pregnancy care with their GP. Currently there are more than 380 GPs listed as registered providers in South Western Sydney.

South Western Sydney PHN and South Western Sydney LHD developed the new process to support ANSC providers deliver optimum care to patients by ensuring consistent professional development and enabling GPs to more easily track their CPD hours over one, rather than three years.

SWSPHN manages the administration and audit of ANSC registration and CPD hours.

How do GPs access relevant CPD?

ANSC CPD events for 2024

The three ANSC CPD hours can be recorded across different types of activities.

For example, CPD hours can be recorded as a combination of educational activities and involvement on an ANSC relevant committee.

Visit CPD events page

Eligible CPD events are published on the ANSC HealthChat page.

Eligible CPD activities

SWSPHN keeps a record of any CPD completed through the events it hosts.

GPs are encouraged to notify SWSPHN of any eligible CPD completed externally since 1 October 2023 if they have not already done so.

This could be a completion certificate or RACGP transcript, emailed to ansc@swsphn.com.au.

To ensure the relevance of any external CPD, GPs should consult this list of approved ANSC topics.

If GPs have any questions, or need to update their contact details to receive their registration form, they should contact the ANSC team at ansc@swsphn.com.au.

30 July 2024

General practices and individual health practitioners will be receiving emails from SWSPHN in the coming weeks in relation to our new General Practice Census and the new process for Antenatal Shared Care providers retaining their program registration.

General Practice Census

The General Practice Census will this year replace our annual update of general practice profiles and practice staff profiles, which provide the invaluable information we use to deliver quality support tailored to your practice’s specific needs.

The General Practice Census is made up of a practice-wide survey followed by a health practitioner survey.

The practice-wide survey will be emailed to each practice’s primary contact (usually your practice manager) tomorrow (Thursday, 1 August). It will include a link which is unique to each practice.

We encourage you to complete your practice-wide survey in August. This will ensure we have the most up-to-date list of health practitioners working at your practice when we send a second survey to your GPs, GP registrars and practice nurses in September.

Again, individual health practitioners will receive a link to a unique survey.

Why: This ‘snapshot’ will enable us to identify factors which influence the recruitment and retention of primary care providers in our region, and future challenges, like an ageing workforce. You will also be ensuring we have the reliable data we need to tailor training programs to fill gaps in workforce knowledge and skills, and to advocate for increased funding and improved healthcare infrastructure in our region.

Find out more

Please direct questions about the General Practice Census to: primarycareworkforce@swsphn.com.au

Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) audit

A new registration renewal process for ANSC providers starts in August and GPs wanting to retain their registration as an ANSC provider must still complete three hours of eligible CPD and now also complete a short, online form by 31 October 2024.

ANSC providers will be emailed a link to a unique online registration renewal form seeking confirmation you want to remain an ANSC provider.

You will be asked if you want to remain an ANSC provider for 2024-2025, declare you have completed three hours of eligible CPD since 1 November 2023 and accept the terms of being a ANSC provider.

You will receive your unique link in early August, giving you time to complete your renewal form before the General Practice Census health practitioner survey link is emailed in September. The form will only take three minutes to complete.

Why: SWSPHN and SWSLHD developed the new registration renewal process to support ANSC providers in delivering optimum care to patients by ensuring consistent professional development and enabling GPs to more easily track their CPD hours over one, rather than three years.

Find out more

Please direct questions about the ANSC registration renewal process to ansc@swsphn.com.au

For further support, contact SWSPHN Practice Support at enquiries@swsphn.com.au

29 July 2024

GPs wanting to maintain their registration as an ANSC provider must complete three hours of eligible CPD and a short, online form by 31 October each year, to retain their registration.

SWSPHN keeps a record of any CPD completed through the events it hosts.

GPs are encouraged to notify SWSPHN of any eligible CPD completed external to our organisation. Please email ansc@SWSPHN.com.au.

To ensure the relevance of any external CPD, GPs should consult the list of approved ANSC topics below.

Anueploidy and early pregnancy screening (including NIPT, NT, cFTS, Pre-eclampsia screening)
Breastfeeding and infant feeding
Early pregnancy complications (including miscarriage, molar, ectopic pregnancies, hyperemesis)
Gestational diabetes
Hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancy
Immediate postnatal period
Immunisation schedule
Labour and birth pain relief options in labour, non-pharmacological options for labour, positions for labour and birth, modes of birth, perineal tears and preventative strategies
LGTBQIA: inclusivity for people having babies
Medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP) and contraception
Newborn behaviours including sleep, settling, and safe sleeping
Newborn check
Preconception: genetic carrier screening, problem solving, assisted reproductive therapies, subfertility for women and men
Psychosocial: mental health (anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy), domestic violence, homelessness amongst pregnant women, substance use
Safety and exposure to medications during pregnancy
Sexually transmitted infections and diseases and pregnancy impacts
Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)/ Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Supporting women and families after a perinatal loss (miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death)
Surviving the first six weeks

31 August 2023

The Department of Health and Aged Care’s Pregnancy Support Counselling initiative provides for Medicare benefits to be paid for non-directive pregnancy support counselling services provided to a person who is:

pregnant; or
has been pregnant in the preceding 12 months

GPs are eligible to bill once they have completed the required course.

Non-directive counselling

Non-directive counselling is a form of counselling based on the understanding that, in many situations, people can resolve their own problems without being provided with a solution by the counsellor.

The counsellor’s role is to encourage the person to express their feelings but not suggest what decision the person should make.

By listening and reflecting back what the person reveals to them, the counsellor helps them to explore and understand their feelings.

With this understanding, the person is able to make the decision which is best for them.

The service involves the GP undertaking a safe, confidential process which helps the patient explore concerns they have about a current pregnancy or a pregnancy which occurred in the preceding 12 months.

This includes providing, on request, unbiased, evidence-based information about all options and services available to the patient.

Minimum requirements

Non-directive counselling may only be provided by a GP who has completed appropriate non-directive pregnancy counselling training.

Please see below for further information:

Available courses accessible via gplearning (gpl.racgp.org.au). A login is required:

Pregnancy advice and support (4 CPD hours – completion entitled to claim MBS item 4001)
Pregnancy support counselling (Department of Health and Aged Care)
Item 4001 | Medicare Benefits Schedule (Department of Health and Aged Care)

16 May 2023

South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Maternity Services is undertaking the Antenatal Redesign Project to improve the provision of safe, equitable care which is accessible to all women, and broaden the implementation of first trimester screening.

The project team would like to hear from GPs about their experiences with antenatal shared care and ideas on how to improve systems and processes between GPs and local hospitals.

Feedback can be given via an online focus group or a one-on-one interview.

Three working parties have been established as part of the project, and each include GPs from across the region.

The first working party is focused on consumer information and engagement, with the priority being women receiving timely and culturally specific information.

The second working party has an emphasis on the referral processes, with the last working party focusing on the coordination of first trimester screening for all women in SWSLHD.

Online focus groups sessions will be held on:

Monday, 22 May: 30pm to 1.30pm
Wednesday, 24 May: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Monday, 29 May: 7pm to 8pm
Friday, 9 June: 12.30pm to 1.30pm

If you have any questions about the focus groups or would like to be involved, please contact Nicole Grieg – Antenatal Redesign Project Manager – via Nicole.grieg@health.nsw.gov.au or 0419 440 943.

23 March 2023

We’re looking into women’s experiences accessing pregnancy care via GP shared care in South Western Sydney.

In the last 12 months have you:

Had pregnancy care in South Western Sydney with a GP?

AND

Given birth in a South Western Sydney public hospital?

If so, we would like to hear from you.

Download flyer to find out more

02 March 2023

The University of Melbourne is looking for GPs to participate in a focus group to help evaluate a digital antenatal psychosocial screening tool.

The digital screening and clinical decision support tool aims to help GPs identify and respond to psychosocial risk factors in pregnancy, such as

alcohol and substance use
exposure to domestic and family violence
experiences of poor mental health

GPs are required to participate in a 45 to 60-minute focus group evaluation, where you will be shown a demonstration of a prototype antenatal psychosocial screening tool, and then be asked to provide feedback on what works and what wouldn’t work in your general practice context.

How to participate

If you would like to participate in this project, or would like more information, please email antenatal-screen@unimelb.edu.au

27 February 2023

Baked goods from grateful patients is one of the perks of being a GP in Bowral, according to Highlands General Practice’s Dr Harshinie Jayamanna. Dr Jayamanna’s particular interests are paediatric and palliative care. She is also an accredited Antenatal Shared Care provider.

How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practising in the Southern Highlands/Bowral LGA?

I’ve been a GP for four-and-a-half years, and in the Southern Highlands for the same amount of time, including three-and-a-half years at Highlands General Practice in Bowral. I now also work at Schwarz Family Practice in Elderslie.

When/why did you decide you wanted to become a GP?

I had always wanted to do obstetrics and gynaecology, but changed to anaesthesiology, which I did for 13 years back home in Sri Lanka.

But when you see a patient in hospital, you’re always saying ‘follow up with your GP’ and you never see them again. GPs are able to provide more comprehensive care. The patients come to their GP, and you are able to coordinate their care. As a GP, you get to know the person and what’s happening around them, you see whole families.

I like antenatal care. I see mothers and babies for things like vaccinations. Many of my first patients are four years old now. It’s amazing to see.

Being a GP is so community focused, you make connections with people and feel like you are doing something positive for them, that you can save a life. I liked hospital work as well, but as a GP you provide broader care and look after the whole person,

What do you love most about being a GP/what part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?

Seeing patients getting better, especially children – you know when they’re better, they’re really better, they can’t pretend to be ill.

I like paediatrics most, I feel very comfortable looking after children and delivering things like vaccines. I also like to provide chronic care. I’d say my main interests are paediatrics and palliative care.

I also enjoy engaging with lots of different people.

Bowral is a very special community, everyone knows everyone. You link in well with the hospital and the specialists are very helpful – they are just one call away with advice if you are stuck with something.

I’ve been with Schwarz Family Practice since December and it’s also a lovely place to work.

The whole team is friendly and helpful, and it’s easy to work when everyone agrees with the current Australian recommendations, especially when it comes to prescribing medications (S8).

What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community?

Chronic disease management is well co-ordinated at our practice. We have a special nurse specifically for chronic disease management. It’s very comprehensive, so we won’t miss anything.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to spend time with my children.

I like cooking and entertaining guests. I like reading, cycling with my children when with the weather permits, and I love to travel, not that I’ve done that during the last three years.

What do you love most about Southern Highlands/Bowral?

The area! The community is very friendly.

There’s an older population here, although that’s changing now because people are moving into rural areas like Bowral because of COVID and I’m getting to see lots of new families.

I especially like caring for the older population of Bowral, they’re really lovely and do things like baking for us all the time and sending cards.

I’ve found Schwartz to be a similar practice.

What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health?

Eat healthy and exercise.

I say to young people, avoid dangerous, risky activities. Things like vaping. We have lots of young people coming in who don’t know how to stop.

I also say talk to your GP, especially about things like your mental health, we are always here to help.

16 February 2023

GPs are being urged to help raise awareness in their pregnant patients of the importance in making their first hospital antenatal booking appointment by 12 weeks gestation.

First trimester bookings benefits:

Early care planning
Identification of women with specific needs or risk factors
Commencement of treatments that are most effective early in the pregnancy
Continuity of carer
Better pregnancy outcomes and satisfaction

Find out about Antenatal Shared Care

06 December 2022

SWSPHN joined South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) for the recent official launch of the First 2000 Days initiative, a strategy aimed at giving all children 0 to five-years the best start in life.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, Director of Planning and Performance, Amy Prince, and other PHN staff attended the gathering at Western Sydney University’s Macarthur Clinical School in Campbelltown.

The First 2000 Days strategy aims to:

Improve care and access to care at general practice and hospitals
Continue to improve GP knowledge through relevant CPD opportunities
Improve maternal health by:
- Identifying women with gestational diabetes and/or preeclampsia
- Reducing smoking in women and alcohol consumption
- Improving obesity rates in children and education
Improve immunisation rates
Work with women to reduce domestic violence

Dr Nicole Hall, a GP from Wattle Grove Family Medical Practice and co-chair of the SWSPHN/ SWSLHD Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) Operations Group, spoke on behalf of SWSPHN.

There are currently 370 ANSC-recognised providers within the region, working across 445 medical practices delivering care in multiple languages.

Dr Hall emphasised the importance of GP-care from as early as pre-conception and conception, antenatal and postnatal care, continuing through to childhood and all other stages of life.

Dr Hall highlighted points including:

GPs are at the heart of every referral
GPs are the primary immunisers for pregnant women and children within the first 2000 days
SWSPHN encourages GPs to record height/weight through our Quality Improvement in Primary Care program
SWSPHN supports GPs and practice nurses in providing quality paediatric care via:
CPD events for paediatric conditions
Ongoing CPD in relation to ANSC throughout the year
SWSPHN, in partnership with SWSLHD, provides clinical guidance and referral information via HealthPathways
SWSPHN provides information to the community on common developmental and paediatric conditions, as well as local services via Heath Resource Directory. This is provided in four languages and audio formats

SWSPHN has been implementing the First 2000 Days strategies since 2019 but COVID-19 delayed the official launch of the initiative.

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 7 December 2022. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

Advertise your practice vacancy

Topic: Antenatal Shared Care