GPs' role in maternity care 'must be restored'

3 Aug 10
Maternity care in England is being 'undermined' by decades of NHS policy that has almost eradicated the role of GPs, according to a health think-tank

By Lucy Phillips

4 August 2010

Maternity care in England is being ‘undermined’ by decades of NHS policy that has almost eradicated the role of GPs, according to a health think-tank.

A report published today by the King’s Fund warns that GP involvement in maternity care has ‘all but disappeared’ over the past 30 years. GPs have gone from being responsible for guiding women through their pregnancy to ‘merely signposting women to midwife- or consultant-led care – in some cases without even seeing the woman in question’.

Recent official guidance from the NHS omitted any reference to GPs’ responsibilities, despite the fact that they hold vital information on women’s medical histories and are often best placed to deal with any problems. 

The report, The role of GPs in maternity care – what does the future hold?, says the current system ‘risks fragmentation of care and the breakdown in communication between midwives and GPs’. It adds that many pregnant women have been left confused about who to turn to if they feel unwell.

The think-tank calls for ‘urgent clarification’ of the role of GPs in maternity care. It recommends reintroducing sufficient training in pregnancy care for GPs so they can share responsibilities with midwives and obstetricians.

Anna Dixon, lead author and director of policy at the King’s Fund, said: ‘It is right that those with specialist skills, such as midwives and obstetricians, take the lead role in caring for pregnant women but GPs have a vital role to play in pre-conception and shared ante-natal and postnatal care.

‘So long as women turn to their GPs for care during pregnancy, GPs must ensure they have the necessary training and competencies to care or appropriately refer them.’

The British Medical Association agreed that health policy over recent years had led to increasingly fragmented care during pregnancy.

‘Many GPs have watched with growing concern as long-established and valued midwife colleagues have been withdrawn from practice teams and continuity of care for pregnant women has been lost. GPs want to be more involved in maternity care because they see it as an important part of their job,’ said Dr Laurence Buckman, chair of the BMA’s GPs committee.

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top