Pregnancy and the early years Archives | Page 2 of 2

02 October 2020

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) is inviting health professionals working in, or passionate about supporting peoples’ mental health and well-being to become a PANDA Clinical Champion.

Clinical Champions are health professionals, researchers and clinical leaders who may or may not have their own lived experience of perinatal mental illness, who are interested in helping PANDA shape the service system that provides care to the families who need it.

Through Clinical Champions, PANDA is offering health professionals an opportunity to broaden their impact and help to build a community of passionate clinical leaders who work in or interact with the field of perinatal mental health. Clinical Champions may be asked to consult on a range of issues, from public health to service design and professional development.

To find out more or you can register here

31 August 2020

Family Planning NSW (FPNSW) is now providing abortion services. Clients can access surgical abortion up to 12 weeks plus six days gestation and medical abortion up to nine weeks gestation through FPNSW.
The following information is for clinicians working with clients who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and want information about abortion.

Surgical abortion

FPNSW is currently providing surgical abortion services from Chatswood. Clients up to 12 weeks plus six days gestation are eligible for the service. At FPNSW, clients having a surgical abortion can expect to have two appointments: initial assessment; abortion procedure. The assessment appointment can be booked at any FPNSW clinic or by telehealth in certain instances, where the clinician will arrange any required tests and confirm medical eligibility for the procedure. The client is then scheduled for their surgical abortion procedure at Chatswood.

Cost of a surgical abortion

People with access to Medicare will incur fees and will have a total out of pocket cost of $375 for their appointments at FPNSW (after Medicare rebate). People without access to Medicare will incur a total fee of $788.25. These fees do not include the cost of medication, contraceptive devices or additional appointments if needed. To find surgical abortion fees information Bulk billing for is available for: full time students; concession card holders; young people aged 18 and under; and financial hardship.

Medical abortion

Clients can access medical abortion at all FPNSW fixed clinics (Ashfield, Fairfield, Penrith, Newcastle and Dubbo) and by telehealth in certain instances. Clients with a pregnancy up to nine weeks gestation are eligible for a medical abortion. At FPNSW, clients having a medical abortion can expect to have three appointments: abortion assessment; medical abortion provision; a follow-up appointment. This process supports comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care, including arranging STI testing, provision of contraception and cervical screening where appropriate.

Cost of a medical abortion at FPNSW

People with access to Medicare will incur fees and will have a total out of pocket cost of $95 for their three appointments at FPNSW (after Medicare rebate). People without access to Medicare will incur a total fee of $286 for their appointments. These fees do not include the cost of the abortion medication, contraception devices or additional appointments if needed to manage complications. To find medical abortion fees information Bulk billing for is available for: full time students; concession card holders; young people aged 18 and under; financial hardship.

Clients do not need a referral to access the service, anyone can call to book an appointment at their local FPNSW clinic. To find more information. In the instance where clinicians would like to directly refer a client to the FPNSW abortion service, they can use the referral form.

If clients have any questions prior to their assessment visit, they can discuss these with Family Planning NSW Talkline staff by calling 1300 658 886.

29 May 2020

The Safer Baby Bundle Program aims to reduce the rate of stillbirths in Australia by 20 per cent by 2023. An online training package has been developed for healthcare professionals. These modules are eligible for 6 points of CPD (self-reported).

We are aiming for all ANSC GPs to complete this training in 2020. As an added incentive, SWSPHN is running the following competition to win Event Cinemas gift cards.

GP Prize: One GP who provides proof of completion will win a $250 gift card

Practice Prize: One practice will win five $50 gift cards to be distributed within the practice*.

How to enter: Email proof of completion to Delena Bailey between now and 30 September, 2020.

Closing date and notification of winners: The competition will close on 30 September. The draw will occur on Thursday, 1 October 2020 and the winning GP and practice will be notified via email.

Find out more about the Safer Baby Bundle

02 March 2020

Did you know that NSW Health’s Hepatitis B Strategy calls for every pregnant woman to be tested for hepatitis B?

For women diagnosed within antenatal screening, a positive result can be pretty alarming, with issues around:

feeling dirty and contaminated,
worrying about transmission to baby and to other family,
wondering about source of infection (hepatitis B is considered an STI and a diagnosis can raise uncertainty around fidelity within intimate relationships).

In addition, a large proportion of diagnosed women are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and possibly not highly health literate or comfortable within the NSW healthcare system and environment.

Hepatitis NSW has developed a pamphlet that aims to help address the needs of women diagnosed within antenatal screening.

It was developed with valuable input from Caroline Homer, Professor of Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney, and Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Western Sydney University.

Hepatitis NSW can provide antenatal-related health workers with an ongoing free supply of Hepatitis B, Mothers and Babies. To order your free supply, email pharvey@hep.org.au

04 February 2020

The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence has led the development of the Safer Baby Bundle – a collection of change ideas or interventions for healthcare professionals to reduce late pregnancy stillbirth.
The Safer Baby Bundle consists of five elements designed to reduce stillbirth rates after 28 weeks’ gestation.

Element 1: Supporting women to stop smoking during pregnancy

Element 2: Improving detection and management of fetal growth restriction

Element 3: Raising awareness and improving care for women with decreased fetal movements

Element 4: Improving awareness of maternal safe going-to-sleep position in late pregnancy

Element 5: Improving decision-making about the timing of birth for women with risk factors for stillbirth

The Safer Baby Bundle Handbook and Resource Guide has been created to assist with implementation of the Bundle. Free and accredited CPD training for healthcare professionals is also available via e-learning modules.

To find out more.