Expectant mothers can now bypass their GP and book directly with midwives for pregnancy care through a new NHS service, as PA Media reports. Women will be able to refer themselves to local maternity services "at the touch of a button" via nhs.uk, giving them faster first appointments.
Traditionally, mothers-to-be made appointments with their family doctor to share the news before being booked in with their midwife, according to PA Media. While online self-referral has been introduced by local health bodies in recent years, NHS leaders said only half of expectant mothers were using these services directly, with many going "unnecessarily" to their GP to access maternity care.
Officials stressed that women can still see a GP if they prefer, particularly those with long-term health conditions who need to discuss changes to their care or treatment plans with a doctor. However, around a quarter of local health bodies have yet to connect to the national service, leaving pregnant women in these areas to self-refer via local trust websites, as PA Media confirmed.
Expected benefits for healthcare system
The move could free up tens of thousands of appointments for overstretched GPs, according to NHS estimates reported by PA Media. Officials project the new service could lead to 180,000 fewer calls to GPs and up to 30,000 fewer general practice appointments annually.
Health officials revealed that first midwife appointments are "vital", but only 62 per cent of these happened within the first ten weeks of pregnancy in 2023/24, PA Media reports. Around 600,000 babies are born each year in England and Wales.
Official responses to new service
"It's so important that newly pregnant women get the support they need as soon as possible, so this new tool makes it easier than ever to book that all-important first maternity care appointment," said Kate Brintworth, NHS chief midwife, according to PA Media. "Making this process simpler at the touch of a button is a vital step in empowering women to take control of their pregnancy journey right from the very start and improving access to timely, personalised care."
Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England's national medical director, emphasised that GPs remain available for women with pregnancy concerns or other health conditions requiring monitoring, as PA Media reports. "This quick and easy tool can help ease pressure on practice teams, who won't need to make the referral themselves, and by freeing up that time there will hopefully be a benefit for other patients who are looking to make an appointment with their GP," she said.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the overhaul addresses bureaucratic barriers, according to PA Media. "Early pregnancy should be about joy and excitement - not wrestling with NHS bureaucracy to book a midwife appointment," he stated. "That's why we've overhauled the online referral system. No more endless phone calls or form-filling. Just a simple online service that lets you book those crucial first appointments with a few clicks."
Professional body perspectives
Abbie Aplin, director of maternity improvement and partnerships at the Royal College of Midwives, welcomed increased patient control over pregnancy care, as PA Media reports. "Giving women more control and more agency over their care during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period can only be a good thing," she said. However, she raised concerns about digital accessibility, warning that the NHS must ensure existing inequalities aren't widened for those without easy access to smartphones and technology.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, supported the initiative while emphasising continued GP availability, according to PA Media. "It's important that women in early pregnancy still know they can come to their GP directly with any concerns about their pregnancy or health," she said, particularly advising women with existing health conditions to maintain GP contact throughout pregnancy.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
