TERMS OF CARE AND CONSENT

Evolve Postnatal Clinic

Last updated: September 2026

Introduction

These Terms of Care explain how Evolve Postnatal Clinic provides services and what you are consenting to when you book care with us.

By booking an appointment and confirming your acceptance through our online booking process, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Terms of Care and Consent.

Our Services

Evolve Postnatal Clinic provides midwifery led postnatal, infant feeding and lactation care.

Depending on your individual needs, care may include postnatal assessment and support, breastfeeding and lactation assessment, infant feeding support, breast and nipple concerns, feeding difficulties, infant oral function assessment where appropriate, expressing and milk supply support, mixed feeding or formula feeding support, infant growth and feeding review, postnatal recovery and wellbeing, education, care planning and referral where appropriate.

The care provided will depend on your individual circumstances and clinical needs.

Your Care

Care is provided within the professional scope of practice of the treating practitioner.

Your assessment and recommendations are based on the information available at the time of your consultation.

Please provide accurate and relevant information about your health, your baby’s health, medications, previous care and any concerns that may affect assessment or treatment.

You are encouraged to ask questions and participate actively in decisions about your care.

Consent to Care

By attending Evolve Postnatal Clinic, you consent to appropriate assessment, discussion, education and care within the scope of the service you have booked.

Healthcare is based on informed and voluntary consent.

You may ask questions, decline an assessment or recommendation, request an alternative approach or withdraw consent at any time.

Acceptance of these Terms does not replace specific informed consent where a particular examination, treatment, procedure, medication, referral or other intervention requires additional discussion or consent.

Care Involving Your Baby

Where an appointment includes assessment or care of your baby, you confirm that you are a parent or legal guardian, or otherwise have appropriate authority to consent to care on your baby’s behalf.

Assessment may include consideration of your baby’s feeding, growth, behaviour, oral function, physical wellbeing and other factors relevant to the reason for consultation.

If a concern is identified that requires assessment beyond the scope of the clinic, we may recommend review by your GP, child health nurse, paediatrician, hospital or another appropriate healthcare professional.

Consent to Information Sharing

Good postnatal care often requires communication between healthcare providers.

You consent to Evolve Postnatal Clinic sharing relevant information about you or your baby with healthcare professionals involved in your care or your baby’s care where this is reasonably necessary for continuity of care, referral, clinical safety or follow up.

This may include your GP, your baby’s GP, child health nurse, maternity or hospital service, obstetrician, paediatrician, allied health practitioner, pathology or imaging provider, or another healthcare professional involved in your care.

Information shared will be limited to information reasonably relevant to the purpose of the communication.

Where practical, significant referrals or information sharing will be discussed with you.

You may tell us if there is a particular person or service with whom you do not wish information to be shared. We will respect this where reasonably possible, provided doing so does not conflict with legal obligations or create a significant clinical or safety concern.

Information may also be disclosed without your consent where required or authorised by law or where otherwise permitted under Australian privacy law.

Privacy and Clinical Records

Evolve Postnatal Clinic maintains clinical records relating to the care provided to you and, where applicable, your baby.

Information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

By accepting these Terms, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to read the Evolve Postnatal Clinic Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal and health information as described in that policy.

Communication With You

You consent to Evolve Postnatal Clinic contacting you about your care using the contact details you provide.

Communication may include telephone calls, SMS, email, online booking notifications or other appropriate electronic communication.

This may include appointment information, clinical follow up, referrals, results, care information or requests for further information.

Please advise us if you do not wish a particular method of communication to be used.

Results and Follow Up

Where investigations, referrals or further assessment are recommended, responsibility for follow up may be shared between you, Evolve Postnatal Clinic and other healthcare providers.

Please complete recommended investigations and attend recommended follow up.

If you have been asked to provide us with a result, report or update, please do so.

Do not assume that Evolve Postnatal Clinic has automatically received results from another healthcare provider unless this has been confirmed.

Limits of the Service

Evolve Postnatal Clinic is not an emergency service and does not provide continuous or 24 hour clinical monitoring.

Online booking systems, email, website enquiries and social media should not be used for emergencies.

If you or your baby are seriously unwell or you believe urgent medical attention is required, contact emergency services on 000 or attend an appropriate emergency department.

For less urgent concerns requiring medical assessment outside the scope or availability of Evolve Postnatal Clinic, you may be advised to contact your GP, child health service, maternity service, paediatric service or another appropriate healthcare provider.

Referral and Escalation of Care

There may be circumstances in which we recommend assessment by another healthcare professional or service.

This may occur if a concern is outside the scope of the clinic, further investigation is required, your condition or your baby’s condition requires medical review, concerns are identified regarding feeding, growth, development or wellbeing, or ongoing multidisciplinary care may be beneficial.

A recommendation for referral is made in the interests of safe and appropriate care.

You retain the right to make decisions about your care, except where legal requirements apply.

Prescribing, Investigations and Referrals

Where clinically appropriate and within the practitioner’s endorsement and scope of practice, services may include prescribing medicines, ordering investigations or referring to other healthcare providers.

Any medicine, investigation or referral will be discussed with you as appropriate to the circumstances.

Specific consent may be sought where required.

Telehealth

Some services may be provided by telephone or video consultation where clinically appropriate.

Telehealth has limitations because physical examination may not be possible.

If adequate assessment cannot be completed remotely, you may be advised to arrange an in person assessment or seek care from another service.

Fees and Medicare

Many services provided by Evolve Postnatal Clinic are eligible for Medicare billing where Medicare requirements are met.

Where a service is bulk billed, you may be asked to confirm your assignment of Medicare benefits following the consultation. This may be sent to you electronically after your appointment.

By completing the assignment of benefit, you authorise the Medicare benefit for that service to be paid directly to Evolve Postnatal Clinic.

Some services may attract an out of pocket fee, and some services may not be eligible for Medicare. Any applicable fee will be displayed or explained at the time of booking.

You are responsible for ensuring that your Medicare details are current and accurate.

Medicare eligibility is determined by Medicare requirements and may depend on the type of service provided and your individual circumstances.

Where a private fee applies, payment is required in accordance with the clinic’s stated payment terms.

Cancellations and Missed Appointments

Please provide as much notice as possible if you need to change or cancel an appointment.

Any cancellation or non attendance conditions applying to your appointment will be displayed during the booking process or otherwise communicated to you.

Respectful Care

Evolve Postnatal Clinic aims to provide respectful, individualised and non judgemental care.

You are entitled to ask questions, express preferences and participate in decisions about your care.

We also expect respectful communication towards practitioners, staff and other people using the clinic.

No Guarantee of Outcomes

Healthcare outcomes are influenced by many factors.

While we will provide care based on professional judgement, available evidence and your individual circumstances, we cannot guarantee a particular feeding, lactation, recovery or health outcome.

Your Acknowledgement and Consent

By confirming your acceptance during the booking process, you confirm that you have read and understood these Terms of Care and Consent.

You consent to receiving care from Evolve Postnatal Clinic.

Where care involves your baby, you confirm that you have authority to consent to care on your baby’s behalf.

You consent to the collection and documentation of information reasonably necessary to provide care.

You consent to relevant information being shared with healthcare professionals where reasonably necessary for continuity of care, referral, clinical safety or follow up.

You understand that you may ask questions, place reasonable limits on consent or withdraw consent.

You understand that specific informed consent may still be required for particular aspects of care.

You confirm that you have had the opportunity to read the Evolve Postnatal Clinic Privacy Policy.