The role of GPs in maternity care : what does the future hold?

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This paper was commissioned by The King's Fund to inform the Inquiry into the Quality of General Practice in England. The views expressed are those of the authors and not of the panel
Pregnancy is a normal physiological process, and an important life and family event. There are many professionals involved in the care of pregnant women, their babies and their families, including obstetricians, anaesthetists, midwives and GPs. Today, there are two main models of care for pregnant women in the United Kingdom: midwife-led care for low-risk women and consultant-led care for high-risk women. The involvement of GPs in the care of pregnant women has dramatically declined. This paper asks whether there still is a role for GPs in maternity care. We attempt to define a future role for GPs in pre-conception, antenatal and postnatal care and discuss the merits of shared care between GPs and midwives. We begin by setting out the history of GPs’ role in maternity care in the United Kingdom and how policy has changed over the past 20 years. We summarise the current role GPs play in maternity services and what current guidance says about the role of the GP in maternity care. We conclude with a discussion of the potential role GPs could play in maternity care.

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