CARE_14AchievingCare for Focus Patients
Support Continuity of Maternity Care for Focus Patients
Summary
Collaborate with midwifery teams to ensure Focus Patients receive safe, continuous care during pregnancy.
Supporting information
Maternal and infant mortality rates are significantly higher for women from deprived areas and minoritised ethnic communities. Supporting continuity of maternity care through collaborative working can help address these stark inequalities.
Approaches to implementation:
- Speak to your midwifery team about maternity care for Focus Patients and establish links with specialist midwifery teams for vulnerable women
- Share relevant information about social circumstances, involving social prescribing and link workers.
- Work with midwifery, health visiting, and mental health teams to develop comprehensive, joined up postnatal follow-up to ensure smooth transitions back to primary care
- Address social determinants affecting pregnancy through links with support services
Key benefits: Contributes to reducing inequalities in maternal and infant mortality, ensures vulnerable pregnant women aren't lost between services, and demonstrates whole-system working to support those at highest risk.