Julia Lopez MP has welcomed a funding boost which means that every new mum in Hornchurch and Upminster will be able to get full postnatal check-up after having a baby.
NHS England has announced that all GP practices will get funding so that mothers get a dedicated six week postnatal check up to discuss their health with a GP or healthcare practitioner. Up until now only the baby check has been funded.
Julia Lopez MP has worked closely with NCT - the UK’s largest parenting charity – to achieve this outcome.
NCT’s #Hidden Half campaign has called for this funding since its research revealed that nearly half of mothers’ postnatal mental health problems were not being picked up by healthcare professionals¹. Mums reported that whilst baby checks were routinely carried out, the maternal check was either not done at all or squeezed in at the end of the baby check appointment, resulting in a rushed conversation. Consequently, mothers reported not feeling comfortable disclosing mental health problems.
Angela McConville, Chief Executive, NCT, said:
“It’s fantastic news that NHS England has responded to calls for better postnatal mental health checks. This is a huge step forward and means more new mothers can be supported to talk about their mental health problems and get the help they need.”