GPs and other antenatal care providers are being advised to pivot quickly to provide most visits via telehealth to reduce the risk of pregnant women being exposed to COVID-19.

At least one major tertiary centre is planning to reduce face-to-face consults to just three visits for low-risk pregnancies, according to Queensland GP Dr Wendy Burton, who chairs the RACGP antenatal/postnatal care specific interests group.

Dr Burton says she’s working on a collaborative plan with her local maternity hospital that calls for pregnant women to have a rapid scan between 34-37 weeks to check foetal growth and position and for referral of women for obstetric review if concerns arise.

She says a formal response from the RACGP and new resources for GPs will be available in the next couple of weeks.