https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/royal-hospital-for-women/services-clinics/directory/mothersafeRoyal Hospital for Women's perinatal mental health team, comprised of psychiatrists, trainee psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health midwives, provides support during pregnancy and the first year post-birth. Eligibility includes all women delivering at RHW, with those in the local area able to access services for a year post-birth. During the booking visit, mental health is assessed, and referrals are made as needed. If interested in our services and not yet referred, please discuss with your midwife or doctor to arrange a referral.

Psychology

• The Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Service supports women who are receiving antenatal care at the Royal, who have birthed at the Royal within the last year and live within the SESLHD, and parents whose babies are in the NICU. 
• For more information, see the Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Psychology Service page.

Psychiatry

• Women can be referred by their general practitioner, obstetrician, social worker or the perinatal mental health midwife to see one of the psychiatry doctors. They will have a detailed assessment of their mental health and treatment recommendations will be made in collaboration with the women. Possible recommendations include monitoring, psychological therapy, and consideration of medication. 

CMC PNMH

• The Clinical Midwifery Consultant (CMC) in Perinatal Mental Health at RHW coordinates care for women booked into RHW for their baby who have mental health concerns such as anxiety or low mood, these include preexisting Mental Health conditions  or ones that emerge during the perinatal period. The CMC Perinatal Mental Health provides clinical advice to patients, carers, and other health professionals within a defined specialty. The CMC PNMH develops Psychosocial Support Plans for women when needed for their Birth & Postnatal admission.
• Referrals to the CMC Perinatal Mental Health are through the Multidisciplinary Case Discussion after the completion of the psychosocial questionnaire at booking. Referrals are made by the booking midwife and allocated to Perinatal Mental Health when appropriate. Referrals can also be made by your midwife, obstetrician, RMO or GP anytime during pregnancy.
• Referrals are also received up to the first year postpartum from GP’s, Child & Family Health Nurses, Karitane and/or Tresillian for women who live in the Eastern sector of SESLHD.

POMHS service

• The Perinatal Outreach Mental Health Service (POMHS) clinician is a psychologist or Mental Health Midwife/Nurse who provides care for families during pregnancy & up to 12 months postpartum who are faced with mental health challenges before or during pregnancy or in the transition to parenthood.

• The SESLHD Mental Health Service caters to a local population of over 930,000 residents in Sydney's eastern and south eastern suburbs, operates through networked services in the north (Eastern Suburbs Mental Health Service) and south (St George and Sutherland Mental Health Service), encompassing both hospital and community settings. The service is committed to inclusivity and responsiveness, tailoring initiatives for consumers with complex needs. Providing age-specific and specialised services, the SESLHD Mental Health Service empowers stakeholders to influence system change. The service supports community understanding of mental health and effective treatment access. 
• Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that provides support, information, and resources related to mental health and emotional well-being during the perinatal period (from pregnancy to the early postnatal period). COPE offers a range of services, including online resources, helplines, and educational materials, to support individuals and families dealing with perinatal mental health issues.
• This Way Up offers online treatment programs for perinatal mental health designed to teach practical skills to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
• MotherSafe is a free telephone service for the women of NSW, based at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick. The MotherSafe service provides a comprehensive counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

• We have an in-house team of over 190 medical, nursing and allied health clinicians providing 24/7 care for babies within the NICU and the wards.
• In addition, we have a number of visiting specialists and allied health team from our co-located Sydney Children's Hospital to provide around the clock care when needed.
• The visiting specialists include every paediatric speciality including but not limited to surgeons, cardiologists, paediatric intensivists, geneticists and metabolic disease specialists, endocrinologists, dermatologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, immunologists, haematologists and oncologists.

NCC Medical Team

NCC Nursing Team 

Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Psychology Service

The Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Service supports women who are receiving antenatal care at the Royal, who have birthed at the Royal within the last year and live within the SESLHD, and parents whose babies are in the NICU. 

For more information, see the Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Psychology Service page.

Babies on Postnatal Wards

There are about 3,000 births at the Royal Hospital for Women each year.  Our team provide neonatal services to all these babies.

Hospital in The Home (HITH)

We provide Hospital in The Home Program. HITH is a model of care that allows continuity of hospital care for your baby in your  home while under close supervision of our team. This program reduces the length of stay of a baby in the hospital and encourages smooth transition of care from controlled ICU environment to home. A range of clinical conditions and babies can be effectively and safely managed without needing to be in hospital. While HITH is entirely voluntary, it's important to know that your baby under the HITH program is still treated as an admitted patient, with the same standard of care that your baby would receive in hospital. You are taught to manage baby’s tube feeds at home while establishing full sucking feeds. 

• The visiting rules are displayed at the entrance to NCC. These rules have been formulated to give the most protection to babies while allowing parents to see them as much as they need. 
• Quiet time is 1pm-3pm, which coincides with quiet time on the postnatal wards, when we encourage mothers to rest. We ask you not to visit at this time as we dim the lights and allow the babies to also rest. 
• We do not encourage you to bring in visitors who are not closely related to your baby, due to the risk of infection for all babies. Children are not permitted unless they are brothers or sisters of baby, as children often carry germs which can place babies at risk of infection.
• Only two visitors per baby are allowed at one time, as there is not enough space to allow room for more. The two people must include one of the parents. Anybody visiting without a parent present will be asked to leave. 
• Every person coming into the unit must meticulously wash their hands, even when not touching babies. 
• We ask that you stay with your own baby and do not wander around the nursery, as babies (and their parents) are entitled to privacy. Any special visiting requests must be discussed with nursing staff beforehand to avoid confusion and disappointment. 
• IF ANY VISITOR IS UNWELL PLEASE DO NOT BRING THEM INTO NEWBORN CARE CENTRE.

Newborn Care follow-up Clinic

• Infants discharged from the postnatal wards and NCC with minor problems are referred to this clinic for short term follow-up.
• The clinic operates twice a week under the supervision of a neonatologist.
• The clinic provides follow-up until 3-4 months of age after which the infant may be referred to a paediatrician and/or GP for ongoing care.

Growth and Development Clinic

• Infants born very early or very sick in the newborn period may take longer to achieve their developmental milestones.
• The aim of the Growth and Development Clinic is to check how these babies are growing and how they are developing.
• Our team at Growth and Development Clinic (also known as G&D clinic) routinely follow up babies less than 29 weeks or less than 1000g at birth. We also follow babies who were very sick newborn period.
• The clinic is run by a dedicated multidisciplinary team including developmental paediatrician, physiotherapist and psychologist.
• Contact for Growth and Development Clinic Coordinator: Ms Brianna Draskovic, phone 02-9382 6190 for any queries about the services

Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Service (SUPPS) Clinic

The Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Service (SUPPS) at the Royal Hospital for Women offers case management and assistance for women and families affected by alcohol and other drug use.  This also includes prescription medications that are necessary to maintain a mother’s health.   

For more information and how to contact, see the Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Service (SUPPS) Clinic page. 

Social Work is an integral part of the NCC team and, along with the clinicians who are looking after your baby, they are here to assist you with practical and emotional support throughout your baby’s admission. The role of social workers is to focus on your wellbeing, helping you to look after yourself as you navigate the journey that your baby has gone through in the NCC.

Read more about the Social Work team and what they offer on the Social Work Support for Newborn Care Parents page.