A model perinatal mental health service
The key recommendations from the NICE guidance and the Healthcare Commission, coupled with other Department of Health policy, particularly in respect of children’s services, and recommendations of CEMACH (2004, 2007) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Oates 2000), suggests that the needs of mothers, their infants and their families will be best served through services organised and managed around the woman and her family. These services need to be provided through integrated, whole system perinatal mental health networks, working across the three separate service “worlds” of maternity, children and adult mental health.
Characteristics
- a “whole system approach” which could include social care and third sector partners
- focussed on the needs of the infant as well as the mother
- integrated care pathways agreed by all care
- a multidisciplinary team made including psychiatrist(s), community psychiatric nurses, and social worker(s).
- perinatal mental health competencies
- effective assessment to support improved detection
- woman at risk are referred to identified lead obstetrician and midwife in each maternity service
- patient information systems to record perinatal mental health issues
- clear co-ordination and liaison arrangements for each maternity unit, encompassing referring GPs, community midwives and health visitors, hospital maternity services, primary care mental health teams and the specialist multidisciplinary perinatal mental health team
- access to inpatient beds in a specialist Mother and Baby Unit