Midwifery Group Practice

Sometimes known as 'Caseload Midwifery', Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) enables women to be cared for by the same midwife (primary midwife) supported by a small group of midwives throughout their pregnancy, during childbirth and in the early weeks at home with a new baby. Midwifery care focuses on women's individual needs, or 'woman centred care'.

Where situations arise that indicate a need for medical involvement, midwives work collaboratively with medical colleagues to coordinate the best care for mother and baby.  The Primary Midwife will continue to provide care regardless of the need for medical involvement.

Where a baby is born will depend on availability of rooms and specific needs at the time of  labour.

MGP is able to provide full midwifery care for planned home births.  There are criteria around this involving your general health, obstetric history and your current address.  Discuss this option with your midwife at the first visit if you are interested.

MGP supports midwifery students from Flinders University and the University of SA.

Midwives in Australia are currently regulated by statutory Nurses Boards in all states and territories.

How to access the service

Currently the program is limited in size and places are subjet to availability. Any pregnant woman who lives within the defined catchment area is eligible to apply to enrol in MGP. The boundaries of the catchment area re determined by the continuity of midwifery care services being provided by other maternity units within Adelaide, so that services don't overlap. Please note that if women who have been accepted into MGP move outside the MGP catchment area during their pregnancy, they may be asked to leave MGP and care will be provided in the routine hospital system.

Women who live outside the boundaries of the catchment area for MGP are welcome to use other maternal/child health services offered by the WCH and will be advised of midwifery services available in the local community.

At present the program is only available to women using the public health system, however demand by women with private health cover will be monitored.  Currently, the service does not operate in conjunction with shared care provided by a GP.

Women interested in MGP care can express their interest during their first booking appointment in the Women's Outpatients Department, located on the first floor of the Queen Victoria Building.

From December 2007 all bookings for public antenatal access can be made by phoning the SA Pregnancy Information Number: 1300 368 820. 

Information for MGP users

Antenatal care

Labour and birth care

Care after your baby is born

Responsibilities of women participating in MGP

Interpreting service/language and cultural resources

Midwifery Group Practice information (printable version)

Resources/publications

The Australian College of Midwives Guidelines for Consultation and Referral: ACMI (Nov 2003) is available upon request.  This document provides guidelines for midwives to identify and respond to risk factors.

For more information about midwifery continuity of care models visit the maternity coalition website.

Research Activity

MGP was evaluated for the first eighteen months of operation. Findings demonstrated clinical effectiveness, high client satisfaction and a reduction in medical interventions for women across all levels of "risk" in their pregnancies. If you wish to purchase a copy of this evaluation report for $25, contact Jenny Ryan, Women's Administration, CYWHS on ph : (08) 8161 7515 or by email : jenny.ryan@health.sa.gov.au .

Subject to consent, women receiving care through MGP are available to participate in clinical trials operating at WCH.

Wards

Birthing Centre

Contact Details

Clinical Service Coordinators

Aurianne Webber

Jackie Kitschke/Allison Waldron (job share)

Location

Queen Victoria Building

Mailing address

Midwifery Group Practice

Women's and Children's Hospital

72 King William Road

North Adelaide 

South Australia 5006

Phone/fax/email

Phone (08) 8161 8005 - Bookings - Midwife

Phone (08) 8161 8406 - Midwifery Group Practice Ward Clerk

Fax     (08) 8161 7829

email  aurianne.webber@health.sa.gov.au

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