Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide every new mother with a six-week health check that includes a conversation on mental health; and if he will make a statement.
As the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends, a review at 6-8 weeks by healthcare professionals presents an opportunity to assess new parents’ physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have been reviewing the available evidence to establish a clearer picture of current practice in this area. NHS England has been working with the National Childbirth Trust on developing the evidence base, and we are following this important work closely.