Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the six week postnatal GP appointment for new mothers is a full check on the mother's physical and mental health in addition to a separate appointment on the health of the newborn child.

Clinical recommendations relating to postnatal checks for mothers and newborn babies are outlined within the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance titled ‘Postnatal care up to 8 weeks after birth’.

Section 1.2.65 states that ‘At the end of the postnatal period, the coordinating healthcare professional should ensure that the woman’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing is reviewed. Screening and medical history should also be taken into account’.

Sections 1.4.11-13 state that at six to eight weeks an examination on the health of a newborn child should be made. Further detail of this guidance can be found at:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg37

NHS England expects commissioners and providers of maternity care to pay due regard to the NICE guidelines. Implementation of this guidance is the responsibility of local National Health Service commissioners and providers.