Expectant mothers in England can now bypass the need to visit a GP and self-refer directly to local maternity services through a simple online form on NHS.uk. This new system allows women to begin NHS pregnancy care as early as possible, ensuring timely and personalised support from the outset.
Early Access to Essential Care
Previously, only 62% of first midwife appointments occurred within the first ten weeks of pregnancy. These initial appointments are vital for discussing concerns, arranging necessary early screening tests, and identifying high-risk pregnancies. By allowing women to self-refer online, the NHS aims to improve these statistics and make early access to care quicker and simpler.
Kate Brintworth, NHS Chief Midwife, emphasised:
“It’s so important that newly pregnant women get the support they need as soon as possible, so this new tool makes it easier than ever to book that all-important first maternity care appointment. Making this process simpler at the touch of a button is a vital step in empowering women to take control of their pregnancy journey right from the very start.”
The sooner expectant mums engage with NHS services, the sooner they can access antenatal screening and benefit from midwife support.
Early Uptake Shows Promising Results
Since the service launched in March, nearly 60,000 newly pregnant women have started their referral online. More than three-quarters of NHS trusts in England are now connected to the system, supporting hundreds of thousands of women to access maternity care more quickly. In total, almost 85,000 people have accessed the portal for information and support.
Reducing Pressure on GP Services
The new service is expected to reduce GP workload significantly, potentially saving up to 180,000 phone calls and 30,000 general practice appointments annually.
Dr Claire Fuller, NHS National Medical Director, explained:
“GPs remain available for any pregnant woman who has concerns or other health conditions that require monitoring, but in many cases, GP teams don’t need to be the first point of contact. This quick and easy tool can ease pressure on practice teams and free up time for other patients.”
Making Early Pregnancy Easier
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“Early pregnancy should be about joy and excitement – not wrestling with NHS bureaucracy to book a midwife appointment. Almost 85,000 women have visited the service since March – proof that embracing technology benefits patients and brings the NHS into the 21st century.”
Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, also welcomed the change. Dr Jyotsna Vohra highlighted the importance of early and personalised support in ensuring safe pregnancies and reducing inequities in care.
Ruth Rankine, Primary Care Director at the NHS Confederation, added:
“This is a very welcome step that will simplify access to first midwife appointments and reduce the workload on general practice. Giving people more choices allows them to take greater control of their healthcare.”
How to Self-Refer
Expectant mothers can visit NHS.uk to complete the online self-referral form and select their preferred local NHS trust. For women with additional needs, such as language support or specific health conditions, GP appointments remain an option.
This initiative represents a major step forward in making NHS maternity care faster, simpler, and more accessible – allowing women to focus on what matters most: the health and wellbeing of themselves and their baby.
