Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will bring back the six-week post-delivery check for all mothers with their GPs, including questions on the mother’s physical and mental health as well as on the baby.

In December 2023, NHS England published new guidance on the six-to-eight-week postnatal check-up for all women who have given birth. As a result of this guidance, all new mothers in England will receive a more comprehensive mental and physical check-up from their general practitioner (GP) in the weeks after they give birth. The check-up will cover a range of topics such as mental health, physical recovery, breastfeeding, and support with family planning.

The routine check-up provides an important opportunity for GPs to listen to women in a discrete, supportive environment, and to assess and support women not just in their physical recovery post-birth but also their mental health, making sure any woman needing extra mental health support can be referred, if appropriate, to a specialist straight away.

The six-to-eight-week postnatal check-ups should be offered by GP surgeries, but mothers can also request an appointment for a check themselves, especially if they have any concerns.