Perinatal Mental Health: Warwickshire
National 'Maternal Health Matters' Survey
Healthwatch listened to new parents between October and December 2022 to find out whether mental health support has improved during and after pregnancy.
Based on feedback from nearly 2,700 new mothers and birthing parents, the briefing delves deeper into their experiences of mental health support and makes five recommendations for NHS England and Integrated Care Systems.
Local findings
56 people from Warwickshire responded to the national survey last year, thank you for sharing your experiences.
- 11% of respondents from Warwickshire said they hadn’t received the six to eight-week postnatal check. (GPs in England have been contractually obliged to assess new birthing parents’ mental health and wellbeing since April 2020, providing an opportunity for referral to specialist services and additional support. Crucially, the checks must take place separately from a postnatal check focused on the health of the baby.)
- 36% of respondents felt that the GP did not spend enough time talking to them about their mental health, while 24%, said that their GP didn’t mention this at all during the check.
- 44% said they would rate the quality of mental health support provided by Midwives in Warwickshire as Good or Very good.
One Warwickshire resident said: “Prior to pregnancy I had generalised anxiety. Now am dealing with OCD and trauma symptoms as a result of how I was treated during labour and in the early postnatal period.”
Another said: “The perinatal mental health team have been fantastic. I was seen quickly, and the support has been incredible. I have felt listened to, supported and it has made a huge difference- taking me from a place where I didn’t want my baby to absolutely loving having him.”
Throughout 2023 we have continued to listen to you, to see whether the picture is changing.
One new parent told us: “The 6 week check with the GP was face to face but it was nothing to do with me and was just focused on the baby. It wasn’t my normal GP and they were asking questions like ‘Have I thought about contraception’. They should be asking about how you mentally and physically are, and how are you coping.”
Another told us: “My health visitor is the only reason I am still breastfeeding – they were incredible. I saw the health visitor when I went to get my baby weighed and she said she was leaving the service as she didn’t have enough time to do her job properly. The service needs people like that – she was incredible.”
