New NHS Change Helps Expectant Mothers Access Maternity Care Sooner in England

The NHS has launched a new national system allowing expectant mums in England to book their first midwife appointment online via nhs.uk, without needing to see a GP first.

This is a positive step. It should make it easier for women to access maternity care earlier in pregnancy and could free up tens of thousands of GP appointments each year. NHS figures suggest the change could mean 180,000 fewer calls and 30,000 fewer GP appointments annually.

But while this is welcome news, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. Early access to maternity care isn’t a “nice-to-have”,  it’s critical for identifying risks, supporting healthy pregnancies, and ultimately preventing tragedies like stillbirth.

The reality is that in 2023/24, only 62% of mums had their first midwife appointment within the recommended first 10 weeks. That means nearly 4 in 10 women were still starting their pregnancy care later than they should, often due to delays in referral or lack of awareness about self-referral options. This new system may help, but it’s not a cure-all.

Not all areas have fully joined the national service yet, and mums will still need clear, accessible information about why booking early matters. Removing the GP step will only make a real difference if the importance of early care is actively promoted and if enough midwives are available to meet the demand.

At MAMA Academy, we’ll always welcome changes that help mums access care sooner, but we’ll also keep pushing for the bigger changes needed to give every baby the best possible start in life.