Levels of maternity care at public hospitals
Learn about the different levels of maternity care at public hospitals.
On this page
Which public hospitals can I give birth in
Most public hospitals in Queensland offer maternity care, but some options of care may vary. If you need a higher level of care or have complications during birth, you may need to travel to a major hospital.
Your doctor or midwife will talk to you about your options, and the recommended care according to you and your baby's needs. If you need a higher level of care during birth or after having your baby, we may transfer you to another hospital.
Levels of maternity care
Each hospital has a level of care that’s rated from 1 to 6. They’re based on the type of services and support each one offers, including the:
- staff who work there, for example if they have an obstetrician or anaesthetist
- access to other support services, for example a special care nursery
- type of equipment the facility has, for example an operating theatre.
Each level of care includes the services and supports from lower levels of care. For example, level 5 maternity care also includes all care and services in levels 1 to 4. A hospital’s level of care can change temporarily if the staff or services available change.
Level 1
Routine pregnancy and postnatal care for women and babies who don’t have health problems, and initial support if you go into labour early.
| Care and services | Who’ll support you |
|---|---|
Level 1 care includes basic care during pregnancy and after you have your baby. Unless it’s an emergency, you can’t have your baby here, but you might see a visiting midwife or GP during your pregnancy. Some facilities also offer newborn checks and help with breastfeeding. |
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Level 2
Pregnancy and postnatal care for women who don’t have health problems or a complex pregnancy. Basic birth support for simple and non-complex births.
| Care and services | Who’ll support you |
|---|---|
You may be able to give birth at a level 2 hospital if you're over 37 weeks and having one baby. Some hospitals also offer overnight stays for your support person and support after birth for up to 6 weeks. You can’t get an epidural for pain relief as there aren't specialist doctors on site. |
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Level 3
Pregnancy, birth and postnatal care for women who don’t have health problems or a complex pregnancy.
| Care and services | Who’ll support you |
|---|---|
You can give birth at a level 3 hospital if you’re over 37 weeks and having one baby. Or if you go into labour after 35 weeks and there's a shared plan with a higher level hospital. These hospitals also offer:
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GP obstetricians and GP anaesthetists are GPs with advanced training. They offer some specialist services, and will transfer you to a major hospital if you need higher level care. |
Level 4
Pregnancy and postnatal care for women with minor to moderate health problems, or a pregnancy that needs a higher level of care.
| Care and services | Who’ll support you |
|---|---|
Level 4 hospitals support births from 32 weeks if there’s no other complications. They also offer:
If you or your baby need more care after birth, you can stay in hospital. All hospitals have an adult intensive care unit. We’ll transfer your baby to another hospital if they need intensive care. |
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Level 5
Most complex pregnancies, labour, birthing and postnatal care services, and support for most pregnancies and births.
| Care and services | Who’ll support you |
|---|---|
You may give birth in a hospital with level 5 care or higher if:
We’ll transfer you to a level 6 hospital if:
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Level 6
All maternity care, including services for complex pregnancies and births, and care for babies who are unwell.
| Care and services | Who’ll support you |
|---|---|
Everyone can give birth in level 6 hospitals. They offer all types of care, and can support you if:
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Where you might give birth
You can plan to give birth in a public hospital, but there are also other options such as public birth centres, home birth and private hospitals.
Learning about your options can help you decide where to give birth.
You can also compare maternity services in different hospitals on the Inform My Care website.