ObjectiveTo outline the maternal and perinatal features and outcome of patients referred to a tertiary referral obstetric hospital for management of their hypertension.Setting and patients205 consecutive public patients admitted for assessment of hypertension (either full admission or day‐stay) to King George V Hospital's Hypertension in Pregnancy Unit, between February 1993 and January 1994.DesignA prospective study in which patients were classified according to the Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ASSHP) Consensus Statement classification.ResultsOf the 205 patients, 25% did not meet the criteria for preeclampsia or chronic hypertension, 33% had mild pre‐eclampsia, 34% had severe pre‐eclampsia and the remainder had chronic hypertension. The mean gestation at delivery for those with mild pre‐eclampsia was 38.3 weeks and for severe preeclampsia 35.3 weeks. For the mild and severe groups respectively, the rate of elective delivery for raised blood pressure was 56% and 53%; for caesarean section, 17% and 61%; and for perinatal death, 2% and 4%. In the severe group, 49% had fetal problems and 25% required intravenous antihypertensives.ConclusionsThe multisystem nature of pre‐eclampsia makes comparison of management protocols difficult. Ongoing audit is needed of maternal and perinatal outcomes and features of disease in patients with hypertension in pregnancy under a universal classification. The ASSHP classification system successfully identifies patients who require more intensive management and intervention.