Maternal postnatal care in general practice: steps forward

Stuart Stewart

doi:10.3399/bjgp24X739161

Published eLetters

eLetter submission guidelines

Submit a Response to This Article

Compose eLetter

Title *

Author Information

Contributors

First Name and Middle Initial *

First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.

Last Name *

Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.

Email Address *

Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com. PLEASE NOTE: your email address will be published.

Occupation *

Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'.

Affiliation *

Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.

Statement of Competing Interests

Competing interests? *

Yes

Please describe the competing interests

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Vertical Tabs

Jump to comment:

Maternal postnatal care in general practice: steps forward
Clare Macdonald, Louise Santhanam, Judy Shakespeare and Rehana Meeajan

Published on: 16 September 2024

Published on: (16 September 2024)
Page navigation anchor for Maternal postnatal care in general practice: steps forward
Maternal postnatal care in general practice: steps forward
Clare Macdonald, GP, PhD Student, University of Birmingham
Other Contributors:
Louise Santhanam, GP

Judy Shakespeare, Retired GP

Rehana Meeajan, GP
Dr Stewart’s editorial 'Maternal postnatal care in general practice: steps forward' was timely and salient, advocating for prominence of postnatal care in general practice and demonstrating some important progress since the recent past when primary care was almost absent from planned perinatal care.¹

Dr Stewart correctly defines the guidance from NHSE as being ‘extensive’, and highlights the inadequate funding allocated to practices to provide postnatal consultations. Policy and funding must ensure that GPs are provided with the resources they need so that this consultation can be provided in a meaningful way, particularly for those at highest risk.

For GPs to provide ‘good’ care, they must be given opportunities to develop the skillset for these specific and often complex consultations in their training. As the curriculum stands, it is technically possible for GPs to complete their training without having observed or undertaken a postnatal maternal consultation. If we are to see even more ‘steps forward’, recognition of the role of GPs in perinatal care in the GP curriculum will be important. Another paper in this issue of BJGP confirms the high number of primary care contacts for planned and unplanned care after childbirth; the maternal postnatal consultation being the most likely reason.² GPs are doing this work, and need to be trained and supported to provide the best possible care....
Show More

Dr Stewart’s editorial 'Maternal postnatal care in general practice: steps forward' was timely and salient, advocating for prominence of postnatal care in general practice and demonstrating some important progress since the recent past when primary care was almost absent from planned perinatal care.¹

Dr Stewart correctly defines the guidance from NHSE as being ‘extensive’, and highlights the inadequate funding allocated to practices to provide postnatal consultations. Policy and funding must ensure that GPs are provided with the resources they need so that this consultation can be provided in a meaningful way, particularly for those at highest risk.

For GPs to provide ‘good’ care, they must be given opportunities to develop the skillset for these specific and often complex consultations in their training. As the curriculum stands, it is technically possible for GPs to complete their training without having observed or undertaken a postnatal maternal consultation. If we are to see even more ‘steps forward’, recognition of the role of GPs in perinatal care in the GP curriculum will be important. Another paper in this issue of BJGP confirms the high number of primary care contacts for planned and unplanned care after childbirth; the maternal postnatal consultation being the most likely reason.² GPs are doing this work, and need to be trained and supported to provide the best possible care.

Submitted on behalf of GPs Championing Perinatal Care www.gpcpc.co.uk. GPCPC is a growing network of GPs committed to advocating for improvements in perinatal care in general practice. We hope that shared learning, collaboration and advocacy will provide an important platform for further improvements.

References

1. Shakespeare J, Adams C, deGiorgio S, Duff E, Hillman S, Stephenson J. We need to improve postnatal care, starting with the maternal six week postnatal check. BMJ 2020;368:m252.
2. Smith H, Schartau P, Saxena S, Petersen I. The first 100 days after childbirth: cross-sectional study of maternal clinical events and health needs from primary care. Br J Gen Pract 2024;74(746): e580-e586.
Show Less

Competing Interests: Contributors are committee members of GPs Championing Perinatal Care.