- Expectant mothers in England can now directly book midwife appointments online via nhs.uk, bypassing the need for an initial GP visit.
- This change aims to free up tens of thousands of GP appointments, with estimates suggesting 180,000 fewer calls and 30,000 fewer general practice appointments annually.
- Historically, women would first consult their family doctor for maternity care, though local online self-referral options were available but underutilised.
- The streamlined process is expected to provide faster first appointments for mothers-to-be, addressing the issue where only 62 per cent of initial midwife appointments occurred within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2023/24.
- While the new system simplifies access, women can still see a GP for concerns or existing health conditions, and some local health bodies are yet to fully integrate with the national service.
IN FULL
NHS announces big change to how expectant mothers access maternity care
