Self-referral and electronic digital pregnancy records

You don’t have to see your GP to access maternity care. Refer yourself directly to Newcastle Maternity Services when you do a positive home pregnancy test.  

Let us know you are pregnant to begin your maternity care  

Fill in this online form and one of our midwives will phone you back.  

When the midwife calls, together you can schedule your face-to-face booking appointment. Most booking appointments take place when women are around 8 weeks pregnant. It is best to see a midwife before 10 weeks.  

You can still choose to go to your GP

If you prefer to see your GP, you can. Make a GP appointment and let your doctor know you are pregnant. They will then direct you to the self-referral link, or if you are unable or prefer not to do it, fill out the form on your behalf. You can request a GP appointment at any time during your pregnancy.

Your maternity care booking appointment  

Your booking appointment will usually take place face-to-face. It is the start of your maternity care journey.  

At your booking appointment, we will: 

• Ask about your medical history and previous pregnancies 

• Share early pregnancy information, such as foods to avoid and vitamin supplements to take  

• Explain the screening tests we offer you and your baby 

• Talk about your place of birth options, and birth preferences  

• Do initial health checks with your consent 

Electronic digital pregnancy records – BadgerNet

Newcastle Hospitals’ maternity services now use the electronic patient record system, BadgerNet, and the Badger Notes app. 

BadgerNet Maternity and Badger Notes are fully digital pregnancy records, allowing you real-time access to your maternity records and personalised care plan, anywhere, at any time. 

A single electronic record means you: 

• do not need to remember and take paper-based notes to every appointment 
• can easily view upcoming appointments, access up-to-date pregnancy information and reading 
• no longer need to repeat your story when speaking to different healthcare providers 
• can provide access to your partner/support network, if you wish. 

All of your information is held securely and cannot be accessed without the appropriate log-in details (similar to internet banking). 

The Badger Notes app can be downloaded on Apple and Android mobile devices. 

The videos below will help you understand Badger Notes, how to register to use the app, and how to use it during your pregnancy. You can also ask your midwife.

You can also email the Newcastle Hospitals BadgerNet Maternity team for support with accessing your Badger Notes once you have an account created.