GPs are ‘neglecting’ almost HALF of new mothers by failing to discuss their health after childbirth

GPs are ‘neglecting’ almost half of new mothers by failing to discuss their health after childbirth, a survey has revealed.

Official guidance encourages doctors to enquire about the mothers’ health at a six-week postnatal check-up with her baby.

But 47 per cent of mothers said they got less than three minutes – or no time at all – to discuss their own health, with most of the appointment focused on the baby.

One in four said their doctor didn’t ask if they were mentally coping, which could have ‘devastating’ effects, researchers warned.

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) are calling for a boost of funding so mothers have more time with GPs.

The poll comes amid the NHS being in the middle of a chronic GP shortage.

The NCT and Netmums conducted the survey of 1,025 women with children aged up to two years-old in June.

They found 16 per cent of mothers were given no time at all to discuss their own health, and a further 31 per cent had less than three minutes to talk about their health.

A report is yet to be published, but preliminary findings show some aspects have worsened since the NCT survey in 2017.

Then, 20 per cent of women said they were not asked about their emotional or mental wellbeing at this appointment – less than the 25 per cent in 2019. 

Sarah McMullen, head of knowledge at NCT, implied three minutes was too short to discuss health problems.

She said: ‘Many new mums don’t find it easy to admit they are struggling so it’s impossible to make them feel comfortable enough to discuss their concerns in less than three minutes.

‘It’s vital mothers are given adequate opportunity to discuss any health problems to prevent them from getting worse. 

‘If they aren’t given the support they need at this crucial time it can have a devastating impact on the whole family.’

Mothers can find it difficult to talk about their mental health at a check-up because they feel embarrassed, ashamed or worried they would be deemed incapable of motherhood.

The NHS states postnatal depression affects one in ten women in the UK.

The 2017 NCT survey paints a more worrying picture – it found half of new mothers experience emotional or mental health problems during pregnancy or within a year of their child’s birth.

Anne-Marie O’Leary, Netmum editor in chief, said: ‘We are doing the nation’s families a huge disservice by continuing to neglect the mental health of mums post-partum, which this new research from NCT brings into sharp focus.

‘Maternal mental health is a key predictor in future outcomes for children, so it’s in all of our best interests to act now to better support mums with newborns.’

The statistics led to the launch of The #HiddenHalf campaign, which calls for more funding to new mothers can have their own six-week check-up without their baby. 

Dr Stephanie de Giorgio, a Kent GP, said: ‘Dedicated time for them is vital so we can find out who is struggling and let them know how to seek help if they start to find things too difficult.

‘The only way that health professionals are going to be able to do this is if the government and NHS England agree to fund an appointment solely for new mothers.’ 

According the Health Foundation, staffing issues within the NHS need ‘sufficient levels of investment’ to keep up with increasing workloads.

The Government have been urged to address the GP shortage – a ‘make-or-break issue’ in England – imminently.

A report in June said: ‘Staffing is the make-or-break issue for the NHS in England and workforce shortages are already having a direct impact on patient care and staff experience. 

‘Spending on the education, training and development of staff sits outside NHS England’s budget.’