No GP? No problem: State lets all pregnant women self-refer to maternity care
Professor Michael Clements says it is vital to balance easy access with GP involvement in antenatal care.
Queensland has launched the first statewide system for patients to refer themselves to public hospitals for maternity care.
While a few Australian hospitals have self-referral options already, only Queensland’s Pregnancy Care Self-Referral Portal, launched on 30 June, covers an entire state.
Queensland Health says the program — which the Australian College of Midwives and patient advocates support — aims to reduce perinatal deaths through easier access to antenatal care, particularly for patients who struggle to get GP appointments.
However, the RACGP warns that encouraging patients to “bypass” GPs risks women missing out on first-trimester tests, and maternity services not having vital medical information held by GPs.
