A new task force will explore inequalities in maternity care and identify how the government can improve outcomes for women from ethnic minority communities.
Useful Resources
There are a huge number of respected books/websites/papers on perinatal care. Below is a selection of texts, including documents produced by GPCPC that may be useful for both GPs and patients or their families.
We will try to keep this list up-to-date. If there is anything that you think should be added, updated or changed please contact info@gpcpc.co.uk
Five X More
A grassroots organisation committed to changing Black women and birthing people’s maternal health outcomes in the UK. It is dedicated to supporting mothers with campaigning work and recommendations. It focuses on empowering Black women to make informed choices and advocate for themselves throughout their pregnancies and after childbirth. They recently published Five X More: The Black Maternity Experiences Report (2022) which highlights the urgent work needed to ensure that rapid improvements are made.
Birthrights
Charity championing respectful care during pregnancy and childbirth by protecting human rights. They provide advice and information on legal rights, train doctors and midwives, and campaign to change maternity policy and systems. They have recently led a year-long enquiry into racial injustice and published Birthrights: Systemic Racism, not Broken Bodies (2022) which uncovers the stories behind the statistics and demonstrates that it is racism, not broken bodies that is at the root of many inequities in maternity outcomes and experiences.
Tommy’s: Planning for Pregnancy Tool
A tool for those who are planning a pregnancy and advice on how to improve the health of future pregnancies and child/ren.
UK Gov/Public Health England (last updated 2019): Preconception care- making the case
Information, intelligence and tools with evidence-based approaches for how preconception care can be embedded.
NICE Guideline [NG201]: Antenatal care (2021)
Covers the routine antenatal care that women and their babies should receive. It aims to ensure that pregnant women are offered regular check‑ups, information and support.
NICE Quality Standard [QS22]: Antenatal care (updated 2023)
Covers the routine antenatal care that women and their babies should receive in pregnancy. Describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. GPCPC was a stakeholder in the update of this Quality Standard and endorses these standards.
NHS Website: Screening tests in pregnancy
Information for women and families from the NHS.
NHS Inform Scotland: Pregnancy screening
Pregnancy screening information including a range of languages and formats.
NHS Website: Newborn screening
Information for women and families from the NHS.