Armidale Hospital maternity guide

Armidale Hospital is a public hospital on Rusden Street in Armidale, run by Hunter New England Local Health District. It provides maternity services, with an antenatal clinic, a birth suite and a special care nursery. The maternity phone number for the antenatal clinic and birth suite is (02) 6776 9642. If you think you are in labour or having contractions, call the birth suite or your midwife before you leave home.

Armidale Hospital maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Public hospital with maternity services
• Run by: Hunter New England Local Health District
• In labour: Call the birth suite on (02) 6776 9642
• Pregnancy care options: Midwife clinic, GP obstetrician, GP shared care, obstetric care, Karrali service
• Antenatal clinic: (02) 6776 9642
• Birth suite: Up to 2 support people at any one time
• Nursery: Special care nursery

Where is the Armidale maternity ward, and what is the phone number?

• Address: Armidale Hospital, 226 Rusden Street, Armidale NSW 2350
• Antenatal clinic and birth suite: (02) 6776 9642
• Hospital switchboard: (02) 6776 9500
• Karrali Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service: (02) 6776 9807, Freda Mott Centre, Armidale
• In labour: call the birth suite or your midwife first. For emergency or urgent help, call 000 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

How do I book in at Armidale Hospital to have my baby?

Most women start public pregnancy care in Armidale through their GP.

1. See your GP. When your GP confirms the pregnancy, they send a referral to the closest maternity hospital.
2. Wait for your appointment. The hospital maternity unit makes your first appointment once it has the referral. You can also call (02) 6776 9642.
3. See a midwife. Your first hospital visit is with a midwife at around 11 to 14 weeks, to talk through your care options.
4. Contact Karrali early if it suits you. If you are having an Aboriginal baby, the best time to contact the service is before 16 weeks. A GP referral is not always needed.
5. Book your classes. Call (02) 6776 9642, Monday to Friday, 8am to 3.30pm.

What pregnancy care options does Armidale Hospital offer?

• Midwifery antenatal care clinic. Pregnancy check-ups in a clinic run by midwives.
• GP obstetrician. Care from a GP who has an Advanced Diploma in Obstetrics. You go to the hospital at least 3 times: your first visit, 28 weeks and 36 weeks.
• Shared care with your GP. Your GP looks after you, working with the hospital doctors and midwives. You also visit the hospital at the start and at 28 and 36 weeks.
• Specialist obstetric care. Armidale has a specialist obstetric clinic for pregnancies with complications.
• Private obstetrician. You see your obstetrician in their private rooms. Women with a private obstetrician may give birth at Hunter New England hospitals.
• Karrali Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service. Culturally safe care for women having Aboriginal babies in Armidale, Guyra, Walcha and Uralla, from early pregnancy until the baby is 8 weeks old.

NSW Health explains each option on its Pregnancy care options in NSW page.

Are there antenatal classes at Armidale Hospital?

Yes. Hunter New England Local Health District runs birth and parenting programs, some in person and some streamed live online, such as Birth and Parenting, Breastfeeding and Next Birth After Caesarean. Ask which programs are offered for Armidale when you book. Some programs have a fee, and concessions and health fund rebates are available. To book, call (02) 6776 9642, Monday to Friday, 8am to 3.30pm.

What should I know about the Armidale birth suite?

Each maternity site in the district has a birthing suite where midwives care for women in labour. You can have up to 2 support people with you at any one time, and a doula counts as one of them. The maternity unit has no childcare, so arrange care for older children. Bring what you and your baby need for one day in 1 or 2 small overnight bags, including your antenatal record. Leave valuables at home, and have an approved baby restraint fitted in your car before you go home.

If you or your baby need more specialised care in pregnancy or labour, you may be moved to a larger hospital. John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle is the district's referral hospital for rural sites. Ambulance trips in NSW can be very expensive, so the district suggests joining an ambulance fund if you have no cover.

Does Armidale Hospital have a special care nursery?

Yes. Armidale is one of the district's hospitals with a special care nursery. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Hospital is the main unit for premature and sick newborns across northern NSW. If your baby is cared for there, the team arranges a transfer back to your referring hospital when it is safe, so you are closer to home.

How long will I stay in hospital after having my baby in Armidale?

Most healthy women do not need a long stay. Hunter New England says that where your hospital offers a home midwifery service, you can choose to go home with your baby 4 to 6 hours after the birth or within a couple of days, and have midwife visits at home. Check with your midwife whether Armidale offers this.

What are the Armidale Hospital visiting hours?

Armidale Hospital lists visiting hours of 11am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm. It does not publish separate times for maternity, so call (02) 6776 9642 to check before you visit.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Child and family health nurse: a free home visit within the first 2 weeks after you get home.
• GP checks: see your GP with your baby within 2 weeks of the birth, and book a six-week postnatal check.
• Breastfeeding support: call Armidale maternity on (02) 6776 9642.
• Karrali service: care continues until your baby is 8 weeks old. Call (02) 6776 9807.
• Karitane Careline: 1300 227 464
• Tresillian Parents Help Line: 1300 272 736
• healthdirect: 1800 022 222, for 24 hour health advice

For sleep, follow the Red Nose safe sleep recommendations from your first night at home.

Other maternity hospitals near Armidale

• Tamworth Hospital Public
• Coffs Harbour Health Campus Public
• Port Macquarie Base Hospital Public
• Lismore Base Hospital Public
• Maitland Hospital Public
• John Hunter Hospital Public

See all New South Wales birthing hospitals.

Armidale Hospital maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against Hunter New England Local Health District on 21 October 2026. Services and contact details can change, so confirm with the hospital before you go. This page is general information and is not medical advice.