NHS England has introduced a new online self-referral system that allows newly pregnant women to book their first midwife appointments without needing to visit a GP.
Key Features of the New Service:
- Available at over 75% of NHS trusts in England.
- Women can fill out an online form on NHS.uk to refer themselves directly to local maternity services.
- Families can choose their preferred NHS trust, facilitating early access to midwifery care.
According to Kate Brintworth, NHS chief midwife, this tool is crucial for ensuring that newly pregnant women receive timely support. She stated, “This new tool makes it easier than ever to book that all-important first maternity care appointment.”
Impact of the New System:
- Since its rollout in March 2025, nearly 60,000 women have utilized the online referral service.
- Approximately 85,000 individuals have accessed the referral portal.
- Previously, only about 50% of expectant mothers used local trust sites for self-referral, with many opting to see their GP unnecessarily.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, emphasized the importance of simplifying the referral process, stating, “Early pregnancy should be about joy and excitement – not wrestling with NHS bureaucracy.” He highlighted that the new system eliminates the need for lengthy phone calls and paperwork.
Benefits for Healthcare Providers:
- The new system is expected to reduce the number of calls to GPs by an estimated 180,000 annually.
- It could also lead to around 30,000 fewer general practice appointments each year.
However, some maternity advocates have raised concerns regarding the accessibility of the online service. Abbie Aplin, from the Royal College of Midwives, stressed the importance of ensuring that those without easy access to technology are not excluded.
Dr. Jyotsna Vohra from the charity Tommy’s noted that while the online self-referral is a positive step, it must be user-friendly to be effective.
In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care plans to launch a national maternity dashboard in June 2025 to address previous failures in maternity care across various NHS trusts.
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