New mothers to get mental and physical health checks on the NHS at six weeks Long-running calls for health and wellbeing appointments for new mothers have sparked an NHS roll-out of the new scheme

New mothers are to get NHS physical and mental health checks six weeks after giving birth.

The 600,000 women in England each year who have babies will receive a wellbeing appointment with a GP or practice nurse.

The assessments will focus specifically on the mother’s health, a change to the current system where hers and the baby’s checkups are grouped together.

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It marks a major victory for campaigners who have been lobbying the government to split the appointments amid fears serious health conditions in new mothers are being missed.

Slipping through net

In 2018 a cross-party group of 60 MPs and peers wrote to ministers demanding mandatory psychological checks.

NCT, the parenting charity, warn that half of mothers in the UK develop mental health issues such as postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the six weeks after birth, but that most go undetected.

NHS England is funding the £12m new roll out as part of a five-year contract with GP practices in England to widen provision.

The appointments will last at least 10 minutes and will often come after the baby’s checkup to save NHS and mothers’ time.

The move has gained acclaim among campaigners and health chiefs.

Warmly welcomed

Gill Walton, the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This additional funding for the six-week postnatal check will enable GPs to ensure that the mother receives a proper maternal check, as well as the baby, which is so crucial.

“We know that for some women with pregnancy-related mental illness, if identified early by a GP they can be treated close to their home and avoid any condition escalating.”

Dr Nikita Kanani, a London GP and the NHS’s medical director for primary care, said: “There are over 600,000 births every year in England and ensuring new mums and their babies have the best start is a key commitment of the NHS long-term plan.

“This addition to the contract will allow time and space for new mums to discuss their physical and mental health needs and is extremely welcome.”

Angela McConville, NCT’s chief executive, added: “It’s fantastic news that NHS England has responded to our calls for better postnatal mental health checks.

“This is a huge step forward and means more new mothers will be supported to talk about their mental health problems and get the help they need.”