Mental health care for new mothers a 'house of cards'

Maternity expert leads call for better provision for women

- REBECCA THOMAS

New mothers are being left dangerously at risk by “threadbare” NHS maternity care, with mental health and community services slashed, top health experts have warned. Worrying gaps have emerged in mental health support, as the latest figures from the Royal College of Psychiatrists reveal that up to 1,200 women a year suffer from postpartum psychosis.

Donna Ockenden, who led a damning review of maternity care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, described the support currently available as “a house of cards” as she urged the government to improve provision for women.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, she said: “The safety net in terms of services, one by one, has become more threadbare. I hear this from new mothers, midwives on the ground, and health-visiting colleagues. We’ve cut services, and therefore reduced the ability of midwives and the perinatal team to give the care that they want to give. All of these issues stack up like a house of cards, and we know how easy it is for a house of cards to fall over.”

Her fears were echoed by Dr Bill Kirkup, the author of another major review of maternity failings in East Kent, who said the paucity of support could lead to “tragic consequences”.

The Independent can reveal:

•The NHS has failed to hit targets to roll out “maternal mental health hubs” to all areas by April 2024

•The average waiting time for access to community mental health services for expectant and new mums was eight weeks for a first appointment in 2022-23

•Some trusts have waiting times of between 15 and 30 weeks

The average wait for treatment to start in some areas was up to 50 weeks in 2022-23