Pregnant Women 'Miss Out On Antenatal Care.

Story sourced from the BBC providing top class service to the people of tomorrow,
By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News


Antenatal classes can help pick up health problems during pregnancy

Many of the most vulnerable pregnant women are missing out on vital care in England and Wales, experts say.

NHS watchdog NICE said teenage mothers, domestic abuse victims, drug users and non-English speakers were the least likely to use antenatal services despite being the most in need.
The body said the health service needed to become more flexible and welcoming.
But there has been criticism over its suggestion for schools and colleges to start hosting antenatal classes.

Dr Gillian Leng from NICE: 'The problem at the moment is lack of access'

NICE, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence which acts as the official advisory body to the health service, said antenatal classes played an essential role in improving the health of mothers and babies.
They offer lifestyle advice about drinking and smoking, as well as helping to spot medical problems such as pre-eclampsia and a form of diabetes linked to pregnancy.
But NICE said that despite teenage mothers, domestic abuse victims, drug users and non-English speakers being the most likely to encounter problems, antenatal attendance among these groups remained low - although it was unable to supply figures, and instead based its report on anecdotal evidence.
NICE said not using antenatal services was a factor in the high rates of complications.
Fourteen in 100,000 women die during pregnancy or after childbirth on average, but in deprived communities that figure rises five-fold. Stillbirths and infant mortality rates are also higher, according to official figures.
Interpreters
The guidance said the NHS should take a range of steps to ensure more women from difficult backgrounds accessed antenatal care.
As well as providing classes in schools and colleges where appropriate, the body called for more interpreters for those with difficulty speaking English, out-of-hours contacts, a text-messaging service to remind women of appointments and one-on-one sessions to allow sensitive subjects to be discussed.

 

"Implementing the recommendations will require additional resourcing and staffing at a level that it is not clearly available in the current context of cutbacks in NHS spending," she said.

Mary Newburn, from the National Childbirth Trust parenting charity, said the proposals would make the NHS "more accessible and responsive to the complex needs of vulnerable women who can often slip through the net".

Continue reading the main story