
Improving perinatal care and the role of primary care
From Talking General Practice by GPonline.com
April 10, 2026 · 34 min · Season 6 · Episode 33
About this episode
Emma talks to Dr Liz Dapré about the vital role of primary care in maternal and perinatal health and the challenges faced in the NHS.
Emma talks to Dr Liz Dapré, an academic GP and co-chair of the group GPs Championing Perinatal Care (GPCPC) about the vital role of primary care in maternal and perinatal health. In this conversation Liz and Emma discuss the key problems in perinatal care across the NHS and what needs to happen to address some of these issues. Liz explains how GPCPC is working to ensure the voice of general practice is heard by national policymakers and what it does to support GPs. She also talks about health inequalities in maternal health, the role GPs can play in tackling these and provides practical advice on delivering high-quality 6-to-8-week postnatal checks – explaining why these should be seen as a holistic review of a woman’s transition to parenthood rather than just a series of clinical boxes to tick. And they talk about how GPs can better identify and support women following birth trauma, as well as managing gestational diabetes and the ongoing risks for women affected by this. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links ● Women with gestational diabetes should be referred to the Diabetes…
People in this episode
Host: Emma Bower
Guest: Dr Liz Dapré
Topics covered
- perinatal care
- primary care
- maternal health
- health inequalities
- gestational diabetes
- postnatal checks
Keywords
- perinatal care
- primary care
- maternal health
- gestational diabetes
- postnatal checks
- health inequalities
- birth trauma
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: GPs Championing Perinatal Care, NHS England, GPonline.com
Products: Diabetes Prevention Programme
Books & works: City Birth Trauma Scale questionnaire
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