The Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) programme is a collaborative initiative between South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN), and accredited General Practitioners. It enables GPs to share the care of low-risk pregnancies with hospital maternity teams.
Under this model, women with uncomplicated pregnancies are able to receive the majority of their antenatal care from their own GP — the doctor who knows them best — while retaining access to hospital-based ultrasound, specialist review, and delivery services at St George or Sutherland Hospital.
This continuity-of-care model is associated with higher patient satisfaction, improved communication between providers, and better antenatal outcomes. The Division actively supports GP participation in this programme and represents GPs on the ANSC committee.
GPs who hold a current ANSC accreditation through CESPHN are eligible to participate. Accreditation requires completion of relevant training and a commitment to the programme's clinical standards and documentation requirements.
The ANSC programme operates in partnership with St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital, both part of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD).
The ANSC model divides antenatal visits between your GP and the hospital, so patients get the best of both worlds.
The patient registers with a participating GP and books their first hospital appointment. The GP begins shared care documentation using the ANSC record book or digital equivalent.
The GP provides the majority of routine antenatal appointments — including blood pressure monitoring, urine testing, fundal height measurement, and foetal heart rate checks — as per the shared care schedule.
Patients attend the hospital for morphology scans, gestational diabetes screening, specialist review when indicated, Group B Strep testing, and birth planning. Hospital and GP records are shared throughout.
After birth, the GP provides ongoing postnatal care including the 6-week check for mother and baby. This continuity reinforces the therapeutic relationship and supports long-term family health.
The St George Division of General Practice holds a seat on the ANSC Committee — a governance and advisory body that oversees the quality and development of the shared care programme in our region. Dr Sara Whimster serves as both Division Representative and Committee Chair.
Through this role, the Division advocates for GP interests in the programme, provides feedback from GPs on documentation, communication, and referral processes, and helps develop and review the clinical guidelines that underpin shared care delivery.
The Division also facilitates Peer Group Learning (PGL) sessions that include topics relevant to antenatal shared care — supporting GPs in maintaining their clinical competence and staying up-to-date with programme changes and guidelines.
Contact our Division Representative Dr Sara Whimster, or reach out to CESPHN directly to enquire about ANSC accreditation and how to get started.