Royal Hobart Hospital maternity guide

The Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) is Tasmania's largest hospital, in the centre of Hobart, and is run by the Tasmanian Health Service. It is the state's tertiary referral centre for complex and high-risk pregnancies and births, and it has Tasmania's tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The Tasmanian Health Service says the hospital has about 2,000 births a year. Birthing, pregnancy assessment and the postnatal ward are in the Maternity Unit on Level 7 of K Block. The hospital's main number is (03) 6166 8308. In an emergency, call 000.

Royal Hobart Hospital maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Public, Tasmania's tertiary maternity hospital
• Run by: Tasmanian Health Service
• In labour: Go to the Maternity Unit, Level 7 East, K Block
• Pregnancy care options: Midwifery Group Practice, midwife-led care, Women's Health Clinic for high-risk pregnancy
• Pregnancy Assessment Centre: Level 7 East, K Block, for women over 13 weeks pregnant. Phone (03) 6166 8352
• Maternity Unit: Pregnancy assessment, birthing and postnatal ward on Level 7, K Block
• Nursery: Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, including a Special Care Nursery
• Classes and tours: Face-to-face group classes and group tours of the Maternity Unit

Where is Royal Hobart Hospital maternity, and how do I contact it?

• Address: Royal Hobart Hospital, 48 Liverpool Street, Hobart TAS 7000
• Maternity Unit: Level 7, K Block
• Pregnancy Assessment Centre: Level 7 East, K Block, (03) 6166 8352
• Antenatal appointments: Wellington Clinics, Level 8, (03) 6166 0000
• Hospital main number: (03) 6166 8308
• In labour: go to the Maternity Unit on Level 7 East of K Block.
• Emergency: call 000.

What is the Pregnancy Assessment Centre at the RHH?

The Pregnancy Assessment Centre is part of the Maternity Unit, on Level 7 East of K Block. It is for women who are over 13 weeks pregnant and have a concern about their pregnancy, and for women with a concern up to six weeks after the birth. You can go there yourself, without a referral. You may be seen by a midwife, or by a midwife and a doctor. To contact the Pregnancy Assessment Centre, call (03) 6166 8352.

It does not see problems that are not related to pregnancy, or emergencies such as a serious injury, breathing problems, heart problems or a change in how alert you are. For those, call 000 or go to the nearest Emergency Department. If you are not sure where to go, call 1800MEDICARE on 1800 633 422 for free health advice, 24 hours a day.

How do I book in at the RHH antenatal clinic?

Public pregnancy care at the Royal Hobart Hospital starts with a referral, usually from your GP. Antenatal appointments are at the Wellington Clinics, Level 8. For appointments, call (03) 6166 0000.

1. See your GP. Tell your GP you are pregnant and would like to have your baby at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Your GP sends a referral to the hospital, and eReferral is the preferred way to do this.
2. Ask about your care options early. If you would like the same midwives through your pregnancy and birth, ask about the Midwifery Group Practice. Demand for midwife-led care can be higher than the places available.
3. Specialist care if you need it. If your pregnancy is high risk, the Women's Health Clinic at the hospital plans and manages your care.
4. Book classes and a tour. Hospitals South runs face-to-face group antenatal classes and group tours of the K Block Maternity Unit. Ask your midwife how to book.

What pregnancy care options are there at the Royal Hobart Hospital?

• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). A primary midwife, with a backup midwife, cares for you through pregnancy, labour, the birth and the weeks after. In southern Tasmania, MGP gives priority access to women who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and provides antenatal care at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for low to medium risk pregnancies.
• Other midwife-led care. The Tasmanian Health Service uses a range of midwife-led models, and they vary between regions. Midwife satellite clinics bring pregnancy care closer to local communities.
• Women's Health Clinic. The statewide tertiary referral centre for planning and managing high-risk pregnancies.

Your GP or midwife can talk with you about which option suits your pregnancy.

What is the RHH Maternity Unit like?

Women's services moved into Level 7 of the new K Block in May 2020. The Maternity Unit brings pregnancy assessment, birthing and the postnatal ward together on that floor. When it opened, birthing and pregnancy assessment were on the east side (K7E) and the maternity ward was on the west side (K7W).

The hospital cares for women with both straightforward and complex pregnancies. As the state's tertiary centre for complex and high-risk pregnancies, it also takes referrals from across Tasmania. If you want to see the unit before your baby arrives, ask about the group tours.

Does the Royal Hobart Hospital have a NICU?

Yes. The Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU) is in K Block and has Tasmania's tertiary neonatal intensive care unit for sick and premature babies. It has 28 beds in single rooms across its Special Care Nursery, High Dependency Unit, NICU and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. The unit uses a Family Integrated Care model, which involves families in their baby's care.

What are the RHH maternity ward visiting hours?

Call the hospital on (03) 6166 8308 to check the Maternity Unit's current visiting hours before you visit. How long you stay after the birth depends on your care and how you and your baby are going, so ask your midwife.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS): the Department of Health's free child health service. CHaPS receives a referral for every child born in Tasmania and offers home visits for families with children aged 0 to 5.
• Breastfeeding help: the hospital has specialist lactation consultants, who also follow up referred complex breastfeeding problems soon after you go home.
• Tresillian Tasmanian Parenting Support Line: 1300 827 282 (1300 TAS BUB), free, 7am to 11pm, seven days, for Tasmanian parents with a baby or toddler. Read more about Tresillian in Tasmania.
• 1800MEDICARE: 1800 633 422, free health advice, 24 hours a day.
• Emergency: call 000.

From your first night at home, follow the Red Nose safe sleep recommendations every time your baby sleeps.

Other birthing hospitals near Hobart and in Tasmania

Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital is the other birthing hospital in Hobart. The rest are in the north and north west of the state, listed closest first.

• Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital Private
• Launceston General Hospital Public
• North West Regional Hospital Public

See all Tasmanian birthing hospitals.

Royal Hobart Hospital maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against the Tasmanian Department of Health on 23 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.