Health minister backs antenatal care improvement plans

The health minister Lord Howe has spoken out in support of new guidance geared towards further improving the standard of antenatal care offered to vulnerable pregnant women.

According to a newly-published paper from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), some of the most vulnerable members of society are continuing to miss out on a good level of antenatal care.

These include teenage mothers-to-be, victims of domestic abuse, women with learning or language difficulties and those who use drugs or alcohol.

As such, the institute has published new maternity guidance for healthcare professionals geared towards addressing this, with Lord Howe explaining it is now time to move away from the "one size fits all" approach to antenatal care and understand that some women have "complex needs".

"This guidance will support clinicians and help create health services that are more tailored towards individual needs," he said.

Back in August 2010, a team from the University of Leicester published a report noting that women who benefit from regular visits from NHS health workers specially trained in mental health issues are less likely to suffer from postnatal depression.