The Top End Health Service (TEHS) is integrating maternity services so women have better access to services based on their clinical needs.

Existing stand-alone services are being merged into what will be known as Top End Integrated Maternity Care and Homebirth Services. This reflects the inclusive service TEHS is establishing to provide all women with seamless pregnancy and maternity care in line with their preferred birthing choice.

“We already lead the nation in many areas of maternity care, including public homebirth services and the rate of waterbirths in the Birth Centre at Royal Darwin Hospital,’’ Top End Integrated Maternity Care and Homebirth Services Director Josie Curr said.

“This integration will mean more women can have homebirths in the Darwin region or access the Birth Centre and women in regional and remote areas will have more options for receiving care closer to home, including telehealth consultations with specialists.”

The redesign focuses care on a woman’s individual needs.

“Integrating services is a good thing for the Top End – it opens up more options for all women and provides better access to the services they need based on clinical assessment and contemporary best practice, not their geographical location,” Ms Curr said.

“It means a sustainable service for women of the Top End into the future and better care for women with complex health care needs.

Top End Health Service General Manager Strategic Primary Health Care, Dr Christine Connors, said: “Being pregnant is not an illness and the integration of maternity services will help keep well women out of hospitals, especially with more women in the Darwin region able to have homebirths.”

The Top End Health Service sought representation from a wide range of stakeholders to develop the new model, and has listened to the women in all sections of the community.

The integration is occurring in stages.

“We have already started improving the referral process from GPs, are centralising coordination and triage of all pregnant women to prioritise women with complex needs, and are putting the case management teams together,” Ms Curr said.

“Our next stage is increasing the amount of appointments available to women by realigning our resources.

“This is an exciting step in reducing the need for women to travel to Darwin or to come into a hospital to receive pregnancy care and normalise having a baby.”

Media Contact: Rickie Abraham 0419 818 414