Steve Brine has welcomed a funding boost which means that every new mum in Winchester & Chandler’s Ford will be able to get full postnatal check-up after having a baby.
NHS England has announced that, as part of the new GP contract, all 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.
Steve has worked closely with NCT - the UK’s largest parenting charity – to achieve this outcome and first mooted the idea when he was a Health Minister in the last Government.
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 professionals.
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.
Steve Brine said: “I am delighted to see this funding boost, and know, not least from the fantastic NCT we have locally, that this will be hugely welcomed. It’s been quite a campaign to get this recognised by the NHS, and funded, but it feels great to get it done and will be an important part of the prevention agenda we all know is so important.”
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.
Pictured; Steve Brine (with photo bomb from son William) at a local NCT fundraising fun-day at Lanterns.
