Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to (a) prevent and (b) tackle post- natal depression.

We remain committed to improving perinatal mental health services for new mothers and their partners - not only during the current pandemic.

To help prevent post-natal depression, it is important that parents feel fully supported by all those around them who participate in the care of both mother and baby. Health visitors are ideally placed to support families.

Community health services have continued to provide support during the pandemic with greater use of digital and remote technologies providing support and prioritising higher needs families.

Since 1 April 2020 it has been a contractual requirement for general practitioners to offer a maternal postnatal consultation at six to eight weeks after birth which should focus on a review of the mother’s physical and mental health and general wellbeing.