Blacktown Hospital helping western Sydney locals to Get Healthy in Pregnancy

The Women’s Health Clinic team at Blacktown Hospital has achieved impressive referral and enrolments to the NSW Government service Get Healthy in Pregnancy (GHiP).

Between July 2021 and 30 June 2022, Blacktown Hospital referred 950 women to GHiP and of those, 539 commenced coaching services with a trained health coach to support them with healthy lifestyle goals and sustaining improvements in healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy weight during pregnancy.

GHiP is a free phone-based health coaching program for pregnant women which supports staying healthy from pregnancy to birth and beyond. Coaching and advice is provided by professional dietitians, exercise physiologists, sports scientists, psychologists and nurses.

The program has operated since 2015 and in that time has helped approximately 2,900 people in western Sydney.

Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital Women’s and Children’s Health operations nurse manager, Helen Konowec is not surprised by the successful participation rates and credits this to the dedicated midwives who care about the health and wellbeing of pregnant women.

This is a fantastic achievement by the midwifery staff in helping mums and babies with their long-term health and wellbeing,” said Helen.

Blacktown Hospital registered midwife, Jeanette Davies, echoed Helen’s comment and said, “The team at Blacktown Hospital are committed to improving health outcomes of our pregnant women, not only in the antenatal period but long term too.”

“Friendly, informative, lovely, non-judgemental, inviting and welcoming are some of the words used to describe the coaching team behind the GHiP program,” she said.

“The team gets to know the mum over several calls, which can be up to 10 or more, and can help them to reach their own personal healthy lifestyle goals.”