Who we are
The Lavender Mother and Baby Inpatient Unit is state-wide acute mental health service located at Gold Coast University Hospital. Our multidisciplinary team specialise in providing mental health care for new mothers with severe mental illness that impacts on their ability to function in everyday life and to care for their child, without separating them from their infants.
What we do
We offer comprehensive mental health care for mothers and their babies in the first year following childbirth, without separating mothers from their babies. We focus on improving maternal mental health, fostering mother-baby interaction, and enhancing positive parenting skills. We are a multidisciplinary team that customises care and treatment to the individual needs of the consumer.
Inpatient Services provided
Referrals can be made from the following catchments*:
- Gold Coast
- Darling Downs
- Cairns and Hinterland
- South West
- Central West
- Central Queensland
- Torres and Cape
The unit is supported by the Lavender Perinatal Mental Health Community Team who will assess and triage potential referrals to the Lavender Mother and Baby Unit and facilitate discharge back to the referring service. Where a referral is not accepted, the team can provide consultation and liaison to develop a treatment plan and/or provide sign posting to local services.
The Lavender Mother and Baby Unit provides specialist care for women who require admission to hospital for significant mental health difficulties in the year following childbirth that impact on their ability to function in everyday life and to care for their child. The Unit can only provide care to women who reside in Queensland.
This includes women with:
- postpartum psychosis
- relapse of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in the postpartum
- severe anxiety and/or depressive disorder
- women with complex mental health problems which may include a history of trauma, personality disorder and substance misuse that is impacting significantly on their parenting.
- General practitioner
- Obstetrician
- Paediatrician
- Psychiatrist
- Mental health services.
Information for service providers
- Assess woman based upon eligibility criteria.
- If unsure regarding suitability for referral, please telephone Lavender Mother Baby Unit Intake on (07) 5687 7064 between 8am-4pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
- Complete referral form and fax to (07) 5687 7814 or email to GCUH_Lavender@health.qld.gov.au
- Referrals will be discussed during working hours as stated above and the referrer will be notified of the outcome within two (2) working days. Should the referral be accepted, a further assessment will occur which either may be face to face or via video link with the patient and referrer.
- The baby will require a pre-admission health screen to ensure that the baby is well and free of infectious diseases. There is no capacity to admit ill infants.
- For appropriate prioritisation of the referral, please provide weekly updates as a minimum via phone or email as above.
- When a bed becomes available the referrer and patient will be contacted. The patient leaflet suggests what the mother should bring.
- Lavender Mother and Baby Unit admissions are planned and will occur Monday to Friday 8am-4pm.
- Please note that Lavender Mother and Baby Unit is not responsible for management of the patient prior to admission if there is a delay. The referrer holds the responsibility and governance of the woman and baby’s care and management until they are admitted.
- We encourage all patients, guardians and carers to access the for detailed information relating to eligibility and assistance and a step by step guide to the . The Lavender Team will assist with the application for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme if desired.
| Website | Description |
| Raising Children Network | For concerns about parenting and child development |
| For information about your infant’s vaccination schedule | |
| For information about perinatal services around Queensland | |
| For information that helps mothers work through all the emotional challenges of becoming and being a parent. |
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| For additional mental health resources and ability to search for mental health services |
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| For concerns about how a parent’s mental health illness may affect parenting |
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| For general concerns about a child’s development and health | |
| For urgent mental health enquiries as this is a 24 hour hotline. |
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| For information about well-being and domestic and family violence | |
| For support for the emotional health of new mums with online treatments | |
| For partners of women with mental health difficulties who would like further support | |
| For information to support new mothers with mental health difficulties and parenting concerns | |
| For information to parents who have mental health difficulties or parenting concerns |
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| For information about maternal depression, personality disorder and anxiety | |
| Provides a central location which stores information about all perinatal resources | |
| Provides a free online program to enhance well-being of new mums and dads | |
| For videos about mother and baby units | |
| For articles about perinatal mental health |
| Website | Description |
| Expert information about medication exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. | |
| Evidence-based information on medication and other chemicals to which women in the perinatal period may be exposed. | |
| For information that helps clinicians assess and treat mental illnesses using evidence-based approaches | |
| For research summaries of assessment and interventions for families with mental illnesses |
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| Assistance with literature searches related to perinatal and infant mental health. | |
| For an online course about mother and baby units |