How to be referred

All referrals to our clinics in the Perinatal Department at the Mercy Hospital for Women require a referral from a doctor, usually your general practitioner or obstetrician. If you are already an antenatal patient with Mercy Hospital for Women, this referral is usually made as an internal request through your maternity carer.

Our hospital obstetrician-led clinics look after most high risk women

Most women with high-risk pregnancies are cared for by our obstetrician-led antenatal care teams at the Mercy Hospital for Women. They consult with physicians and other health professionals to provide an excellent standard of care for women with specific needs during their pregnancy.  Not all women with high risk pregnancies need to be referred to the Perinatal Department.

When should a women be referred to the perinatal department?

If your doctor or midwife identify your pregnancy as needing complex multidisciplinary specialist care or prenatal diagnostic services (such as detailed imaging or testing for suspected condition in your baby), then you may be referred to the Department of Perinatal Medicine at the Mercy Hospital for Women.

How does my doctor make the referral?

If you are being referred by your general practitioner or other medical specialist, we require detailed information about you and the reason for the referral. All the results of previous tests performed during the pregnancy and any other tests relevant to your condition should be included with the referral. A hospital referral form should be completed by your doctor and faxed to the Mercy Hospital for Women Maternity service on 03 8458 4205. 

We will check the referral content and contact your doctor if any further information is required. An acknowledgement that we have received the referral will occur within 8 working days.

How long will I have to wait?

We endeavour to respond quickly to all referrals and prioritise women in urgent situations. Our staff discuss the appointment timeframe within our medical team and then contact you with an appointment time and date. If your doctor wishes to speak to one of our medical staff to discuss the urgency of your appointment, our maternal fetal medicine fellow is available through the hospital switchboard. After-hours emergencies should be discussed with the obstetric registrar on call, who will liaise with the maternal fetal medicine or obstetric consultant of the day.

What if there is a problem with my baby?

We understand that waiting for an appointment can be stressful if there is a suspected problem with your baby’s development. We have a Fetal Intake Worker on site Monday to Friday to look after urgent matters relating to suspected fetal abnormalities and to see women at short notice to coordinate care and support. If there has been an abnormality detected on ultrasound or on genetic testing, your doctor can call our Fetal Intake worker in our Genetics department on 03 8458 4346.

Where is the Department of Perinatal Medicine located?

We are located on Level 3 of the Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Rd Heidelberg VIC 3084.

Contact numbers

  • Perinatal Department reception 03 8458 4248
  • Genetics Department reception 03 8458 4346
  • Fetal Surveillance Unit/ Pregnancy Day Assessment Centre 03 8458 4267

Other useful Mercy Hospital for Women phone numbers

  • Mercy Hospital for Women switchboard 03 8458 4444
  • Medical Imaging 03 8458 4300
  • Emergency Department 03 8458 4000
  • Interpreter Office 03 8458 4288 / 4282
  • Parent Education 03 8458 4152
  • Breastfeeding Support 03 8458 4676 / 4677

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