Shared Maternity Care

What is the Shared Care Maternity Program?

Dr Peter England provides maternity patients with a boutique shared care maternity program. The Private GP Shared Care Program allows you the option of sharing your maternity care with a private, highly experienced obstetrician and your own personal GP.

Any patient interested in discussing the Private GP Shared Care Maternity program can call the rooms to discuss if the option is suitable for their maternity care.

CALL US TODAY ON: (03) 9415 9088

Shared maternity care is a form of obstetric care that allows you to see both an obstetrician and your own GP during your pregnancy. 

There are many benefits of using the Private Shared Care model to manage your pregnancy and birth. It provides you with a highly experienced obstetrician of your choice along with the convenience and continuity of seeing your preferred General Practitioner.

• Continuity
  If you have a relationship with your General Practitioner, you’ll continue to share your pregnancy care with them, your GP will also be able to speak directly with your obstetrician throughout your pregnancy.
• Convenience
  Sharing your maternity care with your local GP allows you to have all of your blood tests and scans at a location convenient to your home. You’ll have fewer trips to the city, avoiding traffic and hospital parking.
• Cost
  There are substantial cost benefits for patients using private shared care, most patients will have private health insurance with obstetrics cover. If you don’t have private health insurance, or you are not covered by Medicare, please call the rooms and we can provide information about being a self funded patient, including the costs of the hospital you’d prefer to birth at.
• Care
  You’ll have your own chosen team to care for you during your pregnancy, plus, because you’ll birth your baby in a private hospital, you will receive postnatal care for you and your baby for 4-5 days, compared with approximately 24 hours in a public hospital. Depending on availability at the hospital, you may also spend time at The Park Hyatt as a part of your postnatal care.

IF I CHOOSE PRIVATE SHARED CARE FOR MY PREGNANCY, CAN I SELECT MY OWN GP?

Yes. It is ideal for you to choose the GP who you have a relationship with and are comfortable to have as a part of your birth team.

HOW OFTEN WILL I SEE DR PETER ENGLAND DURING MY PREGNANCY?

During your pregnancy you will usually have around 12- 14 appointments, depending on the health of you and your baby, and the length of your pregnancy.

As a general guide you will see Dr Peter England during the following week’s gestation: 13, 28, 36, 39 and 40. 
You will see your GP for appointments at weeks: 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 32, 34, 37 and 38.
If, throughout your pregnancy you become a high-risk patient, your care will continuously be with Dr Peter England for the remainder of your pregnancy.

WHO DO I SEE AFTER THE BIRTH OF MY BABY?

After the birth of your baby, you’ll see Dr England every day while you are in the hospital, approximately 4-5 days. 
Once you return home, the midwife within the rooms will give you a follow up call to check on how you are going. 
You’ll then have a full consultation with Dr England around 6 weeks after your birth.

WHO IS ABLE TO USE THE PRIVATE SHARED CARE MODEL?

The Private Shared Care Model is ideal for patients who are having a low risk pregnancy and have no known conditions that require higher level care. Patients need to be under 40 years old and in a healthy weight range prior to pregnancy. 

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE?

The Private Shared Care model is mainly for patients with Private Health Insurance, please check with your provider that you have obstetric care for your pregnancy and birth. If you are covering the costs of your pregnancy care without private health insurance, please call the rooms and we can help you with a breakdown of the costs.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE MEDICARE?

For pregnant patients without Medicare support, please call our rooms to discuss the best way to manage the birth of your baby. 

WHAT CRITERIA DO I NEED TO MEET TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHARED CARE MODEL?

Exclusion criteria includes any patient with:

• Cardiac disease
• Renal Disease (HTN)
• Diabetes
• Psychiatric Disorders
• Clotting Disorder
• Epilepsy
• Malignant Disease
• Sever Asthma
• Chemical Dependency
• HIV, Hep B, C Positive
• Autoimmune Disorder
• Cone biopsy
• >1 Cervical dysplasia

Past obstetric treatment that includes the following:

• Pre term birth
• Stillbirth/Neonatal death
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Growth Restriction
• Obstetric cholestasis
• Previous pre-eclampsia

Call our rooms to discuss your pregnancy or for more information on our GP Shared Maternity program. We can also book your first appointment.