Our Services

SHARED MATERNITY CARE

Shared Pregnancy Care is a collaborative model of pregnancy care where specially qualified GPs can work with your chosen delivery hospital to provide the majority of your pregnancy appointments in a familiar environment at your local General Practice. Your birth will be at your chosen delivery hospital.

Dr Meredith Bates and Dr Roisin Mattinson are both qualified to provide shared maternity care. In addition to their work as General Practitioners, they have completed additional training, including Diplomas with the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and maintain ongoing annual education requirements.

Dr Bates also works weekly in the Sunshine Hospital Joan Kirner Antenatal (Pregnancy) Clinic. Dr Bates and Dr Mattinson are accredited to provide Shared Pregnancy Care in collaboration with the following institutions:

  • The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville

  • Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg

  • Joan Kirner Women’s and Children's, St Albans

  • Werribee Mercy Hospital, Werribee

    • Shared Pregnancy Care allows women and pregnant people to attend the majority of their pregnancy appointments in their local community. This helps to facilitate continuity of care throughout the pregnancy and means you can schedule your appointment times around current work/childcare commitments. Your Shared Maternity Care GP will get to know you well (if they don't already) and can help to guide and support you throughout your pregnancy and beyond into the postnatal period, where they can also provide care for your baby.

    • Arrange all required pregnancy testing, including but not limited to blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound scans, chromosomal/genetic testing

    • Provide education about optimising the health of the pregnant person and recommended vitamins/supplements in pregnancy

    • Provide mental health screening and support, including referrals and/or medication support as required

    • Monitor the growth and health of you and your baby, including foetal heart rate monitoring and measurements of symphysio-fundal height

    • Help to prepare you for birth and beyond

  • Not everyone is eligible for Shared Maternity Care. In order to ensure that your care is provided in the safest possible environment, a risk assessment will be completed by both the eligible GP and delivery hospital for each pregnant patient to determine if they are suitable for Shared Maternity Care. If you are deemed suitable, the pregnancy must continue to be low risk' as the pregnancy progresses in order to continue in the program. We offer longer appointments with higher out-of-pocket fees to our Shared Maternity Care clients at Northcote Medical in order to deliver a high quality of care with adequate time to address any and all concerns at each appointment and ensure you feel prepared and supported on your pregnancy journey.

    • Public Hospital Care in Victoria, the public hospital you attend for your pregnancy care is generally the closest geographically 'zoned' hospital to your residential address.

    • Midwifery Group/Caseload Care - similar to Shared Maternity Care with your GP, this model of care provides 'low risk' patients continuity via a small group of Midwives at your chosen hospital who will provide pregnancy appointments and also ideally attend your birth. There are typically limited positions in this program.

    • General Stream - the most common type of pregnancy care, where you will be seen by a combination of Midwives and Obstetricians for your appointments. Please note you may not see the same provider for each appointment.

    • Private Obstetrician - you may have a recommendation from a friend/family member, or you can ask your GP to recommend a local private Obstetrician if this is your preference. You will typically need private health insurance with pregnancy cover or be self-insured.

An example of how your Shared Pregnancy Care visit schedule may look

Note: this may vary for each individual and will be personalised upon your acceptance into the Northcote Medical Shared Maternity Care program.

*Fees: $150 out of pocket fee per session

Early Pregnancy Appointments General Practitioner (Any) GP to provide risk assessment for suitability of Shared Pregnancy Care program
First Hospital Appointment Always required • 12 to 20 weeks Chosen Delivery Hospital • Hospital Clinician to provide risk assessment for suitability of Shared Care program
16 weeks Shared Pregnancy Care GP
22 weeks Shared Pregnancy Care GP
28 weeks Hospital
32 weeks Shared Pregnancy Care GP
34 weeks Shared Pregnancy Care GP
36 weeks Hospital
38 weeks Shared Pregnancy Care GP
39 weeks Shared Pregnancy Care GP
40 weeks Individualised - may be with Hospital or GP
41 weeks Hospital (if needed)
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