Emma talks to Dr Liz Dapré, an academic GP and co-chair of the group GPs Championing Perinatal Care (GPCPC) about the vital role of primary care in maternal and perinatal health.
In this conversation Liz and Emma discuss the key problems in perinatal care across the NHS and what needs to happen to address some of these issues.
Liz explains how GPCPC is working to ensure the voice of general practice is heard by national policymakers and what it does to support GPs.
She also talks about health inequalities in maternal health, the role GPs can play in tackling these and provides practical advice on delivering high-quality 6-to-8-week postnatal checks – explaining why these should be seen as a holistic review of a woman’s transition to parenthood rather than just a series of clinical boxes to tick.
And they talk about how GPs can better identify and support women following birth trauma, as well as managing gestational diabetes and the ongoing risks for women affected by this.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Women with gestational diabetes should be referred to the Diabetes Prevention Programme
● GPs Championing Perinatal Care
● NHS England 6- to 8-week postnatal check guidance
● Improving maternal postnatal check uptake in general practice using an opt-out equitable model of access: results of a 12- month quality improvement project, by Dr Dhiviya Tharan
● City Birth Trauma Scale questionnaire