Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 4 February 2020.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of GPs conducting a routine postnatal physical and mental health check for all new mothers.
Post-natal care can be delivered by a number of different providers, including midwives, health visitors and general practitioners. NHS England and NHS Improvement expect commissioners and providers of maternity care to pay due regard to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE guidance on ‘Postnatal care up to eight weeks after birth’ states that at each postnatal contact, women should be asked about their emotional wellbeing, what family and social support they have and their usual coping strategies for dealing with day-to-day matters. At the end of the postnatal period, the coordinating healthcare professional should ensure that the woman’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing is reviewed. NHS England and NHS Improvement are reviewing the available evidence to establish a clearer picture of current practice in this area.
A decision on whether to specifically include a six-week postnatal maternal health check in negotiations for changes to the 2020-21 contract has not yet been taken.
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