Mothers-to-be are urged to seek help (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pregnant women urged to see a midwife - early!

8:30am Wednesday 1st June 2011 in Health News By Claire Lomax

Pharmacists across Bradford and Airedale are lending their support to a campaign to encourage mothers-to-be to go to a midwife as soon as they know they are pregnant.

Latest figures show that just 78.9 per cent of pregnant women are receiving a full health and social care assessment by 12 weeks and six days gestation, against a national target of 90 per cent.

To encourage women to come forward, NHS Bradford and Airedale, with Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, launched a ‘direct access to a midwife’ campaign.

Pharmacists are backing the campaign by giving out pocket-size cards and displaying posters about how to book a midwife. It is also hoped that pharmacists will include a card whenever someone buys a pregnancy test kit.

Ann Hobbiss, senior public health manager at NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “We want women to know that they have a choice and can go direct to their local midwife, and that this doesn’t need to be done via their GP.

“We’re delighted to have the support of local pharmacies to help publicise this campaign. They’re well placed to encourage women to book direct as they are a trusted source of expert healthcare advice in the community.”

• Read the full story in Wednesday's T&A