Pregnancy care and birth options

If you have a valid Medicare number, you can choose to access the following options for maternity services.

Option 1: Antenatal Clinic

You can elect to be cared for by the Armadale Hospital Antenatal Clinic as a public patient. Your antenatal appointments and care will be jointly provided by the hospital’s midwives and the duty GP Obstetrician. If there are identifiable risk factors at the time of booking, or develop during the course of your pregnancy, you will be seen by one of our Consultant Obstetricians for an expert opinion.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also be eligible to access our special antenatal clinics:

• Boodjari Yorgas Antenatal Clinic for Aboriginal women.
• Supporting Those at Risk (STAR) Clinic for young mothers and women with complex health and social issues.
• Next Birth after Caesarean (NBAC) Clinic for women who choose to have a natural birth following a caesarean section.
• CALD clinic for culturally and linguistically diverse women.
• SWANN clinic designed for women with additional nutritional needs.

To book in as a public patient, you will first need to see your GP for a referral. Your GP will be required to send your referral together with your relevant antenatal ultrasounds and blood test results to our Referral Office by emailing akg.referrals@health.wa.gov.au.

Once your referral has been received by us, you will be sent a letter offering you an appointment with our Antenatal Clinic.

Public patients attending emergency, antenatal clinics and the maternity ward are seen by doctors and midwives on duty at this hospital.

Fees: If you have a valid Medicare number, you will not incur any hospital charges for the care provided throughout your pregnancy, labour and postnatal care.

Option 2: GP Obstetricians (GP own)

As a public patient, you can choose one of the following GP Obstetricians who have admitting rights to Armadale Hospital to provide your care during your pregnancy, labour and post birth:

• Dr Meng Foo – 9493 8333
• Dr Adrian Jameson – 9495 1230
• Dr Ann Lewis – 9399 0909
• Dr Ola Malomo – 9390 8555
• Dr Nafeesa Moolla – 9525 0123
• Dr Rob Perry – 9495 1230
• Dr Allison Philpott – 9390 4444
• Dr Benjamin Wade – 9390 4444
• Dr Garry White – 9390 4444

To organise a booking appointment, please contact the doctor of your choice.

Your GP Obstetrician will manage any issues that may arise throughout your pregnancy including any problems that may arise after hours.

You will also be required to have a booking appointment with the Armadale Hospital midwifery team. This will be advised by your GP Obstetrician.

During your labour in hospital, your doctor will be contacted and will attend to manage your labour.

Fees: There will be a nominal out of pocket fee associated with antenatal and postnatal appointments at your doctor’s practice. Please discuss these costs directly with your GP Obstetrician. You will not incur any fees when you are in hospital for the birth of your baby and postnatal stay.

If you are under the care of a GP Obstetrician, you may choose to be admitted into hospital as a public Medicare patient or use your private health insurance. Please discuss these choices and associated fees with your GP Obstetrician.

Option 3: Midwifery Group Practice

Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) is a program for public patients run by Armadale Hospital for women who prefer to be cared for by the same midwife throughout their pregnancy and postnatal period.

Your primary care will be provided by a midwife dedicated to you and this care is supplemented by a small team of midwives in partnership with a GP Obstetrician. This aims to provide continuity of carer from a named midwife for women and their families.

Your antenatal appointments with your midwife will take place in your home or at our MGP Clinic located at the Community Health and Development Centre at 3056 Albany Highway, Mount Nasura.

Your labour care may be carried out by your primary midwife or one of the MGP midwives if labour occurs after hours.

If you have a normal birth without complications, you can expect to be discharged home with the support of your primary midwife between six to 12 hours after birth.

Your midwife will also be able to provide you and your baby with postnatal care for up to 10 days at home if necessary.

To access the MGP program, contact the Clinic on 9391 2230.

Fees: If you have a valid Medicare number, you will not incur any charges for the care provided throughout your pregnancy, labour and postnatal care. Only valid Medicare card holders are eligible for MGP services.

Visit the MGP page for further information.

Using your private health insurance

If you have a valid Medicare number as well as private health insurance with obstetric cover, you can choose to be treated as private patient at this hospital for the birth of your baby.

To book in as a private patient, you must contact one of the GP Obstetricians listed above to provide your care before, during and after pregnancy.

Antenatal care will be provided at your GP Obstetrician’s practice and fees are applicable. Please discuss these costs with your GP Obstetrician directly.

As a private patient, a majority of fees and charges associated with your hospital accommodation, anaesthetists, radiology and pathology will be covered by your health insurance and Medicare. You are advised to check this with your private health insurer.

The money received from your private health fund directly benefits this hospital as it helps fund hospital equipment, help maintain facilities and provide better services for patients.

Please note: you will not be able to change from a private to a public patient unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Care

If you choose to be a private patient, you will be under the care of your GP Obstetrician before, during and after your pregnancy. Most of these services will be provided at the GP practice.

Patients will also be required to have a booking appointment with an Armadale Hospital midwifery team. This will be advised by your GP.

Single rooms

As a private patient you may request a single room. However, we cannot guarantee single room availability at the time of your admission, as priority is given to patients according to medically assessed needs.

Private uninsured patients

To book in as a private uninsured patient, you must select one of the GP Obstetricians listed above to provide your care before, during and after pregnancy.

As a private uninsured patient, you are solely responsible for all fees and charges relating to your care during your hospital stay including accommodation and radiology. Some medical services are not subsidised by Medicare and you may also be billed for these services.