Pioneering pre-eclampsia screening trial launched
Building on its half century history of medical leadership, WA Country Health Service’s Busselton Health Campus has been named as the Western Australian site chosen to conduct a new national Preterm Pre-eclampsia Screening Trial.
Obstetric, maternal fetal medicine, and midwifery leaders from WA Country Health Service and North Metropolitan Health Service recently joined consumers and executive leads for the launch event held at Busselton Health Campus.
Busselton is one of the largest hospital sites in the South West and services thousands of patients and consumers each year.
It will join eight other sites across the country for the pilot program as part of the world-first Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention Program.
Preterm Pre-eclampsia is responsible 10 to 20 per cent of early preterm births and can have serious consequences for the mother and child.
The pilot will include screening during the first trimester and evaluate how this can be done alongside other clinical practices and mechanisms, such an ultrasounds and blood tests.
The pilot program will see Busselton Health Campus facilitate engagement and education, and any community implementation following the results.
Chair of the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance Professor John Newnham said the program would leverage off previous research and trials focussed on offering low dose aspirin to women identified at high risk early in pregnancy.
“We know this treatment is highly effective for preventing this serious complication of pregnancy. But how to administer the screening program for all women needs to road tested,” he said.
“It is our aim to provide a roadmap for how the program should be rolled out across Australia.”
WA Country Health Service Head of Department for Obstetrics and Gynaecology South West Dr Lauren Megaw said the launch event highlighted the valuable role Busselton will play in rolling out the trial.
“Busselton is one of the largest regional sites in the South West and it services hundreds of expectant families every year,” Dr Megaw said.
“We’re proud to have the opportunity to be part of this program that aims to inform pre-eclampsia screening, treatment and mitigate pre-term birth.
“We’ve already received positive feedback from consumers about Busselton’s involvement,” she added.
In March this year, the Federal Government announced it was investing $5.3 million in the Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention Program to help ensure women carry their babies to full term.
Pictured here is Dr Lauren Megaw, preterm mother Amy Mason and Prof John Newnham at the launch event.
In late 2024, Amy experienced preeclampsia during the birth of her son, Kiwa who was birthed in Bunbury Hospital at 34 weeks. Amy ended up in hospital for a month with Kiwa having to endure a three week stay in the special care nursery.
