The Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Service (PCCS) is the national referral centre for fetal diagnosis of congenital cardiac defects. Advances in technology mean that it is now possible to diagnose many congenital heart defects before birth. Early diagnosis and assessment allows families and health services the opportunity to identify a baby's needs after birth and plan for delivery and postnatal care.

Expectant mothers are referred to the service by their obstetrician for assessment and confirmation of diagnosis. Once a heart defect has been diagnosed, the service works together with the National Women's Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit - part of the National Maternal Fetal Medicine Network - to provide families with the information and support they need and to develop a plan for delivery and afterward.

For families from outside the Auckland area, we work with the local obstetric team and specialists from the National Maternal Fetal Medicine Network. In some cases, babies are able to be safely born locally and in others it is necessary for the baby to be delivered at National Women's in Auckland.

In Auckland, the fetal cardiology clinic is held at the National Women's fetal medicine clinic. For those families living significant distances from Auckland remote video- or tele-conferences may be organised in conjunction with the local obstetric team to discuss findings and plans. 
 
The paediatric cardiac nurse specialists and maternal fetal medicine clinic midwives are the primary contacts for fetal cardiology enquiries.

Contact the paediatric cardiac nurse specialists by email at

See the National Women's Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit Healthpoint site for the fetal medicine clinic contact details.