A specialised clinic for the antenatal care of high-risk patients was established in Cork in January 2004. It is led
by 2 specialists in materno-fetal medicine and provides care for patients from a large catchment area. Small clinic
numbers, specialised midwives, ready access to medical experts and fetal assessment facilities, facilitate an
efficient use of resources. We report on the experience and outcomes of this clinic after the first year in operation.
A database was set up to store relevant information on patients who attended the clinic in 2004. 143 patients
attended. Risk categories included maternal medical disease (62%); multiple pregnancy (11%); previous poor obstetric
history (10%); fetal anomaly (8%). Average gestation; 35.9 weeks, average birth weight; 2598g. Caesarean section rate;
41%. Perinatal mortality rate 67 per 1000 (uncorrected); and 20% neonates required NICU care. This approach to
highrisk obstetric care resulted in favourable outcomes. The management strategy applied in Cork may be a suitable
prototype for comparable areas throughout Ireland