According to a study, GPs are neglecting new mothers by not offering important postnatal check-ups or treating them like a ticker box.
Patient advocates have warned that many crucial six-week assessments are simply not happening – and when they are, women are unhappy with the support they receive.
Failure means mental health issues go undetected, which can prevent mothers from forming close bonds with their babies and potentially also destroy their relationships with their partners.
GPs are contracted and paid to assess the mental health and well-being of new mothers six to eight weeks after birth. The consultations aim to ensure the woman’s good recovery and possible referral to a specialized service.
However, a Healthwatch England survey of 2,693 new mothers found that 16 per cent did not undergo the screening.
Patient advocates have warned that many important six-weekly checks simply don’t happen – and when they do, women are unhappy with the support they receive
READ MORE: Staff shortages forced four in 10 NHS maternity wards to turn away mothers-to-be last year, alarming study finds
Women could not give birth in the maternity ward or maternity home closest to where they lived or to the midwife they wanted
Of those who did, 15 per cent were screened over the phone and only 22 per cent were satisfied with the time their GP spent talking to them about their mental health. Around two-thirds of women said they struggled with their mental health during and after pregnancy.
Of these, 41 percent said they received no mental health support during and after pregnancy.
The watchdog warned that delays in accessing mental health care could have a significant impact on new parents, with some telling the organization they had difficulty leaving home, connecting with their child or maintaining relationships.
The findings come after the Care Quality Commission warned of a “worrying decline” in women’s experiences of maternity care due to a shortage of frontline staff.
Louise Ansari from Healthwatch England said: “Our findings show that although most new mothers and parents who give birth are likely to be invited to postnatal counselling, it is often done as a tick-box exercise, where mental health is not considered a priority is not. considered or treated as a priority. not graded at all.’
An NHS spokesman said: “The NHS is working with GPs and patient associations to ensure that all new mothers receive a postnatal mental and physical health check six weeks after the birth, as set out in the GP contract.”
Healthwatch England made a number of recommendations to NHS England and local health authorities.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
