New Hospital GP Liaison for Rockingham General Hospital
Dr. Alison Soerensen has recently been appointed Hospital Liaison GP (HLGP) Officer for Rockingham General Hospital.
Employed by WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) and the South Metro Health Service, the role of the HLGP Officer is to share information, provide education and work towards a better integration of federally funded general practice and state funded hospital services.
Dr Soerensen is a GP practicing at Murray Medical Centre in Mandurah, and has particular interests in breastfeeding, paediatrics and women’s health. Living and working as a GP in the Peel region, Alison has been an invaluable, longstanding member of the emergency department team at Rockingham General Hospital for the past decade.
Alison is passionate about improving patient care through better communication between primary care and hospital teams and has a strong track record in medico-political advocacy, having been involved with the RACGP and the AMA at both state and federal levels. She is an elected member of the RACGP WA Faculty Council, the Treasurer of the Breastfeeding Medicine Network of Australia and New Zealand and was awarded the AMA(WA) Camille Michener Legacy Award for Junior Doctor in 2018.
Dr Soerensen can be contacted via alison.soerensen@health.wa.gov.au
November 2022
Shared antenatal care at RGH
Women within the Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) catchment area can choose to have their antenatal care provided within a shared care arrangement. This arrangement means that joint care is provided for the pregnant woman by both the birthing hospital and another maternity care provider including a:
- GP
- GP Obstetrician (GPO) and/or
- Endorsed midwife (EM)
All women who elect to birth at RGH need a Maternity Booking Form completed by the GPO/EM/GP.
The RGH maternity leadership team at would like to emphasise it is essential to refer the patient as soon as the pregnancy has been confirmed, even though MBS item number 16591 can only be claimed at 28 weeks.
If a woman opts for shared care with a GPO/EM or GP/EM the woman will have one antenatal appointment at RGH with a midwife at around 30 weeks gestation. The booking visit will be done in the community with an endorsed midwife or GPO.
f a woman opts for shared care solely with a GP, the woman will have two appointments with a midwife. The first is a booking appointment at RGH at 18-22 weeks and the second is an antenatal appointment occurring at 36 weeks gestation.
For women who have not birthed by 40 weeks, the GP/GPO or EM will need to phone the Clinical Midwifery Specialist on 9599 4524 to discuss induction options and management of prolonged pregnancy. Increased surveillance is recommended after 41 completed weeks which includes CTG monitoring +/- ultrasound scans.
View the full schedule of visits by gestation here
The Rockingham Peel Group Antenatal Shared Care Guidelines provide further useful additional information for referring General Practitioners and can be found here
Dr Michelle McNamara
Hospital Liaison GP
Rockingham General Hospital
Email: michelle.mcnamara@health.wa.gov.au
August 2021
Changes to Public Maternity Care in Postcode 6167
As of 16 August 2021, all pregnant women from all suburbs within postcode 6167 should be referred to Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) for their maternity care (and no longer Fiona Stanley Hospital [FSH] ).
Please note RGH has a different model of Maternity Care to FSH – outlined below. If after discussion with your pregnant patient, a decision is made not to share maternity care, you have the option to refer your patient to a GP Obstetrician or GP working with an endorsed midwife in the local area.
A list of these providers is available from RGH Midwifery Unit Manager– 9599 4249 or FSH Midwifery Manager 6152 1566.
Rockingham General Hospital Maternity Model of Care
RGH Obstetrics is an exclusively shared care model between the hospital and GP Obstetricians (GPO), GPs and GP/endorsed midwives. The appointment schedule is below:
- GP/Hospital shared care hospital appointment at 18-22 weeks (telephone appointment) and 36 weeks. All other appointments by GP
- GP/endorsed midwife/hospital shared care – hospital appointment at 30 weeks. All other appointments by GP/EM
- GPO/endorsed midwife/hospital shared care – Hospital appointment at 30 weeks. All other appointments by GPO/EM.
The referral form can be found on the RGH Website.
GPs/GPOs may request an appointment with a specialist obstetrician on the same request form. It is preferred these requests are lodged at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Information regarding which patients require referral to a Specialist Obstetrician and clinical guidelines for the community can be found in the Antenatal Shared Care Guidelines: Information for GP Obstetricians, GPs and Endorsed Midwives.
Dr Simone Stubbs
HLGP Rockingham General hospital
simone.stubbs@health.wa.gov.au
Available: Thursdays
May 2021
Changes to urology services and plastic surgery follow up at RGH
RGH Urology Services
The South Metro Health Service has consolidated urology services to Fiona Stanley (FSH) and Fremantle Hospital (FH). Clinics or theatre lists are no longer available at Rockinham General Hospital (RGH).
GPs can continue to refer patients for urology services through the Central Referral Service and they will be offered an appointment at FSH/FH.
Considering these changes, it may be more efficient to refer stable urological emergencies and post-procedural issues requiring specialist consultation directly to FSH.
There are also significant delays to our patients waiting for vasectomy services at RGH.
See the ‘Vasectomy Services‘ Healthpathway under urology requests for vasectomy services in the South Metro region.
Dr Simone Stubbs
HLGP Rockingham General hospital
simone.stubbs@health.wa.gov.au
Available: Thursdays
Plastic Surgery Follow Up RGH
Fremantle Theatres will be closing for refurbishment in two stages. Theatre sessions will temporarily transfer to both RGH and FSH for a period of 6 to 12 months. The specialties transferring to RGH are as follows;
- General Surgery
- ENT
- Max Fax
- Plastics
Most follow up clinics will occur at FSH, however RGH will need to accommodate a higher Plastics follow-up load.
The Plastics HOD, Dr Colin Song, has asked that all direct closures are followed up with the patient’s GP.
He has requested the surgeons use monocryl (absorbable suture material) wherever possible.
Our patients will be informed of their histopathology results via a booked telephone appointment with the Plastics registrars on Fridays.
March 2020
Let’s not forget the Metro Syphilis Outbreak
Rockingham and Peel are considered metropolitan syphilis hotspots and as you may be aware, a syphilis outbreak has been declared in metropolitan Perth. More information is available here.
Please also be aware of the risk of congenital syphilis and the guidelines for antenatal screening (see the Silver Book and the KEMH Guidelines).
The Metropolitan Communicable Disease Control (MCDC) can provide support and advice, including contact tracing. Phone 08 9222 8588.
MCDC can also provide education for your practice. Email ContactMCDC@health.wa.gov.au if you are interested in having a public health physician or nurse visit your practice.
The South Terrace Sexual Health Clinic can also provide clinical advice on case management on 9431 2149.
All cases of syphilis should be notified to the Department of Health.
See also the “Syphilis” HealthPathway.
Did you know?
There is a contact list of the Rockingham Peel Group clinics and specialists available on the website to enable GPs to easily find a direct clinical contact?
Dr Simone Stubbs
HLGP Rockingham General hospital
simone.stubbs@health.wa.gov.au
Available: Thursdays
November 2020
Rockingham General Hospital Obstetric Model of Care
Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) Obstetrics is an exclusively shared antenatal care model between the hospital and GP Obstetricians (GPOs)/ GPs . The referral form can be found on the RGH Website. The appointment schedule is below:
- GP/Hospital shared care: Hospital visit with midwife at 18-22 weeks and 36 weeks. All other appointments with a GP.
- GP/Endorsed Midwife (EM) /Hospital shared care – Hospital visit with midwife at 30 weeks. All other appointments with a GP/EM.
- GPO/EM /Hospital shared care – Hospital visit with midwife at 30 weeks. All other appointments with GPO/EM.
GPs/GPOs may request an appointment with a specialist obstetrician. It is preferred these requests are lodged at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Click here to access the referral form.
Information regarding which patients require referral to a specialist obstetrician and clinical guidelines for the community can be found in the Antenatal Shared Care Guidelines: Information for GP Obstetricians, GPs and Endorsed Midwives.
Dr Simone Stubbs
HLGP Rockingham General hospital
simone.stubbs@health.wa.gov.au
Available: Thursdays
October 2019
RGH Respiratory requests
The Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) Respiratory Department can accept most respiratory requests, however if GPs suspect a Lung Cancer diagnosis, the most appropriate request would be to the Fiona Stanley Hospital Fast Track Lung Cancer Clinic .
GPs can refer patients directly to RGH for pulmonary rehabilitation. Please refer to the Respiratory Requests Pulmonary Rehabilitation South Metro HealthPathway for inclusion/exclusion criteria and the referral form.
Dr Simone Stubbs
HLGP Rockingham General hospital
simone.stubbs@health.wa.gov.au
Available: Thursdays
October 2019
Rockingham General Hospital Endocrinology Department
The Endocrinology department at Rockingham General Hospital offers public patients living in the Rockingham and Peel region access to endocrinologists, diabetes educators, a dietician, a podiatrist and a psychologist. The department offers care of patients with type 1 diabetes (including insulin pumps), complex type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, bone and gonadal disorders.
Following assessment, patients can be further supported through the Diabetes Telehealth Clinic, the Diabetes Complications Screening Clinic, SMART1E education program for adults with type 1 diabetes, or clinical psychologist review.
Referrals for endocrinologist-led diabetes and endocrinology clinics is through CRS. Referrals for diabetes educators, the dietitian or the podiatrist is direct to RGH via fax on 9599 4737. For urgent referrals please call a consultant Endocrinologist to discuss the patient, and fax the referral directly to RGH on 9599 4737. A consultant Endocrinologist is also available Tuesday to Friday (during normal working hours) for advice via the hospital switchboard on 9559 4000.
Dr Simone Stubbs
Hospital Liaison GP Rockingham Peel Group SMHS
simone.stubbs@health.wa.gov.au