08 November 2007

$4.5 million to provide early pregnancy services

NSW Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, today announced a new investment of $4.5 million to be spent in the remainder of this financial year to provide improved care for women in the early stages of pregnancy. Ms Meagher told Parliament the new funding comes as a result of the recent inquiry into emergency maternity care by Professor Cliff Hughes and Professor William Walters.

"The report into emergency maternity care highlighted the need for improved information and support for women in the first tri-mester of pregnancy. This new funding will provide better access to quality health care services for women with early pregnancy problems," she said.

The NSW Government will improve access to health care services for pregnant women by providing rapid assessment and advice from new Early Pregnancy Units.

"The Early Pregnancy Units will be staffed by trained and skilled nurses, Clinical Initiative Nurses or Nurse Practitioners. These units will provide prompt care and attention to women who have miscarried or who present with threatened miscarriage," Ms Meagher said.

Ms Meagher said $2 million will provide for the new nurse positions at a number of hospitals.

"In addition to the Early Pregnancy Units, a network of Early Pregnancy Assessment Services will be developed to provide an appropriate alternative to Emergency Departments for women with non-urgent problems in early pregnancy," Ms Meagher said.

"To be established in tertiary Level 5 and major rural referral hospitals, this network of services will provide a co-ordinated assessment during day time hours - providing scanning, diagnosis and management planning. Obstetrician and midwife teams will provide these services.

"Additionally there will be 14 new portable ultrasound scanners provided to facilities that do not already have this type of service, including hospitals at Blacktown, Campbelltown, Royal North Shore, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga."

Access to expanded antenatal clinics will be improved at 47 rural and remote hospitals to ensure that pregnancies are well managed and any problems are identified early.

All women who present with early pregnancy problems will also have an opportunity to access a social worker or qualified counsellor.

Consultant midwives will provide advice by telephone, or email and support will be provided via a designated 24/7 phone advice line. New brochures will be released next year to advise women what to do when experiencing problems in early pregnancy.

"This is a comprehensive response to this critical area of care for women with problems in early pregnancy." Ms Meagher said.

Full details of the implementation will be developed in consultation with the Emergency Physicians Taskforce, chaired by Rod Bishop, the Maternal and Perinatal Health Taskforce and the Critical Care Health Taskforce.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au