Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the joint statement on contraception by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the International Confederation of Midwives in September, what steps they are taking to integrate person-centred and respectful contraception provision into sexual, reproductive, maternal and adolescent care services, and emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

We are committed to ensuring that the public receives the best possible contraceptive services. Contraception advice is delivered in sexual health services, general practice, some pharmacies, abortion and maternity services, and online. NHS England strives to ensure that this is integrated into a range of different health encounters that women are likely to have.

For example, sexual and reproductive health services in England provide a range of services, including contraception provision and advice, particularly for vulnerable groups and teenagers. These services are free, open-access, and confidential, to support people to make informed choices.

Contraception advice is provided during both antenatal consultations and at the time of postnatal discharge. Many maternity services also provide both user-based and longer acting methods of contraception at this opportunity.

The Three year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services made a commitment to offer all women a personalised care and support plan by 2026, taking into account physical health, mental health, and social complexities, with a risk assessment updated at every contact.

NHS England has published guidance to support general practitioners to provide women with comprehensive mental and physical postnatal check-ups six to eight weeks after they give birth.

The postnatal consultation provides an important opportunity for contraceptive health needs to be assessed and for general practitioners to listen to women in a discrete, supportive environment. As per the guidance, women should be asked about contraception and supported to make planned choices about future pregnancies.

Women’s health hubs pilots are being rolled out across the National Health Service, together with sexual health services. These can provide a wider choice of options for women, including longer acting methods of contraception.