Monday, 30 November 2009

Antenatal Screening for Down Syndrome and Other Conditions - Information Update

From 8 February 2010, two new publicly-funded screening options for antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions will be available. The availability of the two screening options will bring screening in New Zealand into line with international practice. 

Information and resources on the screening options and quality improvements have been posted out to midwives, general practitioners, obstetricians, gynaecologists, radiologists, and sonographers.

Resources to support the quality improvements include:

• Guidelines for maternity providers (available now)
• A summary sheet for practitioners to use when discussing screening with women (available now)
• Online education modules for practitioners (available from 14 December 2009 via this website)
• Consumer resources (available after 5 January 2010 from http://www.healthed.govt.nz/ or your local DHB health resource distributor) 
• Laboratory referral forms (available in January from this website)