A LETTER produced by two North-East MPs has seen the Government make promises to improve mental health support for new mothers.

Stockton South MP Dr Paul Williams and Darlington MP Jenny Chapman wrote to the Department of Health and Social Care to press for more to be done for mothers experiencing postnatal mental health issues.

The letter, seen exclusively by The Northern Echo, was co-signed by 50 MPs and urges the Government to pursue a policy which would place new guidelines on GPs to offer a six-week check to support new mums.

Ms Chapman and Dr Williams drew up the proposal following a National Childbirth Trust (NCT) report published last year that revealed a “hidden half” of new mothers’ mental health problems are not picked up by a health professional.

Last week, the Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price told the House of Commons that the issues “will be covered” in renegotiations of GP contracts.

Ms Chapman said: “After meeting with local NCT representatives in Darlington, I learnt the true extent of the problem that currently exists.

“Ninety-five per cent of women surveyed by the NCT who had experienced a mental health problem said it had an impact on their ability to cope and 22 per cent of mums were not asked about mental health at their child’s six week check.

“We have to do so much more to ensure women are given the support they need, regardless of whether or not this is their first step into motherhood.

“That is why I pressed Health Ministers in the Commons and have joined forces with my colleagues to push the Government to fund a new, six-week maternal postnatal check.

“In doing so, we will be giving parent and child the best possible start.”

The report that prompted the letter found that NHS services across the country are being “pushed to the limit”, with one trainee GP stating: “Other than a tick box ‘are you ok?’ there’s not much time to explore.”

Stockton South MP, Dr Williams, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adverse Childhood Experiences, said in the letter that a separate appointment for mothers six weeks on from birth would allow for open questions about mental health.

He added: “The evidence suggests that this would make a significant impact on improving maternal mental health for a very modest investment of around £20m per annum, against a total estimated £8bn in costs stemming from the adverse consequences of perinatal mental illness.”

Vicky Forbel, NCT campaigns officer, said: “We hope the Government will fund this vital check to ensure new mothers with mental health problems can get the treatment they need.”