The Guidelines for Shared Maternity Care Affiliates were developed by the Shared Maternity Care Collaborative (GP Liaison Units at the Women's, Mercy Hospital for Women, Northern Health, Western Health and Werribee Mercy) in association with shared maternity care affiliates.
They provide concise, up-to-date guidelines on the provision of shared maternity care at the Women's, Mercy Hospital for Women, Northern Health, Western Health and Werribee Mercy.
At these hospitals, shared maternity care is a major model of care in which a woman is cared for by both hospital staff and a community-based affiliate. The woman attends the hospital for the birth and immediate postnatal care.
Shared maternity care aims to provide a community-based, holistic, safe and culturally appropriate model of care for women. Women often choose this model of care as it provides continuity of care, their GP already knows their family and for many women, it is convenient.