New Triennium: ANSC Education Requirements

To maintain affiliation with the ANSC program, there are ongoing educational requirements for each RACGP triennium. Over the next three-year period (2023-2025), GPs are required to accrue at least 12 CPD points (6 CPD hours) in either antenatal and/or postnatal specific educational activities. Relevant educational activities can be completed as face-to-face and online webinars (CESPHN or external events) or as online education modules.

You can keep your records up to date by forwarding a copy of your CPD statement to ansc@cesphn.com.au

Asthma in Pregnancy Toolkit

The Asthma in Pregnancy Toolkit has been developed to provide a centralised source of evidence-based resources to support decision making by healthcare professionals involved in the care of women with asthma, and for pregnant women seeking to improve their asthma management skills.

Asthma is the most common medical condition to affect pregnancy, and children born to mothers with asthma are at increased risk of poor perinatal outcomes, wheeze, asthma and adverse developmental outcomes.

Developed by Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Newcastle researchers, the toolkit is designed to ensure that health care professionals have access to the most up to date evidence-based treatments for pregnant women.

Antenatal Shared Care Obstetrics Update

Join us for the RPA Women and Babies and Canterbury Hospital ANSC Obstetrics Update on cervical screening in pregnancy and common paediatric issues in the first 6 weeks.

Wednesday 29 March, Online Event, via Zoom Webinar.

All ANSC GPs are welcome to attend and do not need to be affiliated with the RPA Women and Babies and Canterbury Hospital program. 

Prenatal diagnosis and first trimester update

Join us for the St George/Sutherland Hospital ANSC Obstetrics Update on prenatal diagnosis and first trimester care.

Wednesday 5 April, Online Event, via Zoom Webinar

All ANSC GPs are welcome to attend and do not need to be affiliated with the St George/Sutherland Hospital program.

Do you have feedback about the GP ANSC program?

The ANSC program is dedicated to the provision of quality antenatal care and we welcome constructive feedback from GPs to enhance program delivery.   

You can now provide feedback through the CESPHN website on the operations of the ANSC program including applications and orientation, communications, program resources and CPD.  

Program feedback will be discussed at quarterly ANSC Advisory Committee meetings and any urgent feedback will be raised out of session.  

Note: For clinical enquiries and feedback, please contact the GP Liaison Midwife at the relevant hospital.  

EOI to participate in the PIPE-MC Program

The national PIPE-MC (Perinatal Inter-professional Psychosocial Education for Maternity Clinicians) project team led by Western Sydney University is seeking Expressions of Interest from maternity clinicians in the SESLHD to participate in a free training program (includes a one-day workshop and web-based resources) focused on perinatal mental health.

The PIPE-MC workshops will be offered online via Teams or zoom on the 31st of March 0800-1630. Workshops are limited to maximum of 12 inter-professional participants.

Opportunity to strengthen paediatric care at your practice

Would your practice like the opportunity to participate in a NEW Paediatric care trial project - SUSTAIN and GPs complete the Child Health Program (formerly DCH) FREE of charge?

SUSTAIN will offer your practice 12-month access to Paediatrican support through collaboration with Sydney Children Hospital Network, Sydney Child Health Program and CESPHN.  It will test a new virtual model of care aimed at increasing GP confidence and knowledge in paediatric care and reduce general practice paediatric referrals to hospital ED and OP clinics.

We are seeking EOI from six general practices within central and eastern Sydney regions to participate.

Further information contact Karen Wheeler k.wheeler@cesphn.com.au

Syphilis in pregnancy: screening and management guidelines

Infectious syphilis rates in women in NSW have more than doubled since 2017, largely in women of reproductive age, increasing risks for congenital syphilis. Since 2017, there have been nine cases of congenital syphilis, six of which occurred in 2020 - 2021. NSW Health is working on a range of initiatives to combat this rise.

Women at higher risk of syphilis in pregnancy include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women diagnosed with a STI during pregnancy or the preceding 12 months, women who use intravenous drugs and women who have multiple sexual partners. However, infection can, and has, occurred in women without these known risk factors hence the introduction of the second universal syphilis screen at 26 -28 weeks.

Clinical recommendations for screening

• Screen all pregnant women for syphilis at least twice during pregnancy (serology at first antenatal visit and at 26 - 28 weeks). Higher risk women may require additional tests.
• All pregnant women who have received minimal or no antenatal care, or are at risk of missing an appointment, should be opportunistically screened at the service they present at, regardless of gestation.
• Consult sexual health or an infectious diseases clinician for all pregnant women with infectious syphilis. Aboriginal women should be offered culturally appropriate referral pathways.

Management

• Advise obstetric team
• Seek advice from sexual health or infectious disease specialists
• Treat pregnant women with benzathine benzylpencillin (Pregnancy Category A) as per Australian STI Management Guidelines.:

        - Primary/secondary syphilis:  benzathine benzylpencillin 1.8G IM, single dose

        - Late latent syphilis/syphilis of unknown duration: benzathine benzylpencillin 1.8G IM, one dose every 7 days for 3 weeks (3 doses in total)

• Perform contact tracing and test and treat contacts as per ASHM Contact Tracing Guidelines. Your local Sexual Health clinic  or Sexual Health Info Link can also assist.
• Advise to abstain from sexual intercourse for 7 days after treatment

For feedback or program enquiries please contact Maternal Health Program Officers at ansc@cesphn.com.au or on 1300 986 991.