Expectant Bedford mothers can now self-refer for their “all-important” first midwife appointments

Newly pregnant women in Bedford can now complete a simple online form to get their “all-important” first midwife appointments quicker, in a shake up to early maternity care.

As part of a new NHS England service, expectant mothers will also be able to choose which NHS Trust to refer themselves to in order to begin NHS pregnancy care as soon as possible.

The NHS maternity self-referral portal can be found here.

Nearly 60,000 newly pregnant women in England have started their referral online since the new tool first began to be rolled out across the nation in March, with over three quarters of trusts in the country now connected to the service.

First appointments are vital to help expectant mums talk through anything that might be worrying them about their pregnancy, and arrange important early screening tests including to identify those with potentially high-risk pregnancies, although most do not need GP input.

Anyone can still request to see their GP if they’d like to.

“Save time and money”

The new NHS drive aiming to speed up access to pregnancy care comes following latest national data, showing only 62% of first appointments with maternity services happened within the first ten weeks of pregnancy in 2023/24.

“It’s vital that newly mums-to-be get the support they need as early as they can and now it’s easier than ever to book that all-important first maternity care appointment,” said Wendy Matthews OBE, regional Chief Midwife for NHS England.

“It is always good where possible to book with your local maternity unit and community midwife for your care. This can save you time and money in travelling long distances for appointments.

“This new on-line referral system is a leap forward in helping women have more control and more agency when they begin their pregnancy journey and the system is improving their access to timely, personalised care,” she added.

What to expect

The earlier that mums-to-be access care, the sooner the NHS can also offer antenatal screenings.

Midwives will also ask mums about their medical history, including any past pregnancies, their general health, and any medications they’re taking to develop a personalised care plan based on their needs.

NHS England have also said GPs will always be available for any pregnant women who have concerns about their pregnancy, or other health conditions that need monitoring, or who don’t have access to smartphones.

The NHS maternity self-referral portal can be found here: Refer yourself for NHS pregnancy care – NHS.