NHS announces big change to how expectant mothers access maternity care
NHS change allows expectant mothers to access maternity care sooner
- Expectant mothers in England can now directly book midwife appointments online via nhs.uk, bypassing the need for an initial GP visit.
- This change aims to free up tens of thousands of GP appointments, with estimates suggesting 180,000 fewer calls and 30,000 fewer general practice appointments annually.
- Historically, women would first consult their family doctor for maternity care, though local online self-referral options were available but underutilised.
- The streamlined process is expected to provide faster first appointments for mothers-to-be, addressing the issue where only 62 per cent of initial midwife appointments occurred within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2023/24.
- While the new system simplifies access, women can still see a GP for concerns or existing health conditions, and some local health bodies are yet to fully integrate with the national service.