Public Fertility Care Service Update
February 2024
In 2023, Mercy Hospital for Women (MHW) entered a partnership with the Royal Women’s Hospital Public Fertility Service (PFS) to allow MHW patients streamlined access to Assisted Reproductive Treatments. This is a very exciting step for MHW and for families in Banyule, Nillumbik, Darebin and Moreland local council areas.
The Victorian Department of Health Public Fertility Program is led by The Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Health is a tier 2 provider. Patients requiring the services of our Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU) may be referred directly to the Mercy however patients wishing direct access to the new Public Fertility Program may be referred by their GP to The Royal Women’s, who will triage each referral and determine which tier 2 health service is best placed to take on preliminary care of the patient.
Mercy Health is contracted to provide the following services:
- Medical assessment for fertility
- Evaluation and referral for treatment of male factor deficiency
- Assessment of uterine and tubal structural competence
- Appropriate medical treatment for ovulatory dysfunction
Mercy Hospital for Women does not itself provide:
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- Artificial insemination
Families requesting these services will be supported by The Royal Women’s Hospital or other health services in the arrangement.
The partnership between the Mercy and the state-wide Public Fertility Service means a shared application of all guidelines and consent processes, reliable transfer of results and care-planning. Most importantly, minimisation of wait times and avoidance of double wait lists is avoided for all Mercy Reproductive Biology Unit patients.
The Reproductive Biology Unit at the Mercy Hospital for Women is delighted to welcome this new expansion of our services. We continue to provide a thorough fertility assessment and management service for individuals and couples, focusing on common female and male factor causes, ovulation induction treatment and the surgical correction of fertility conditions. Once assessed and optimised by the Mercy Reproductive Biology Unit team, patients will then be managed through the Public Fertility Service when appropriate.
Referrals for the Reproductive Biology Unit can be sent via HealthLink to the Gynaecology department. For more information about referring your patient please visit our Refer a patient website.
For more information on the Public Fertility Program please visit the website from the department of Health or contact the Mercy Reproductive Biology Unit team via email [email protected].
A/Prof M J Rasmussen