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Managing perinatal mental health disorders effectively: identifying the necessary components of service provision and delivery

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Division of Psychiatry, First Floor, Duncan Macmillan House, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA, email: ian.rothera{at}nottshc.nhs.uk

Margaret Oates, Lead Clinician and Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Declaration of interests

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To identify problems with the management of perinatal mental health disorders and areas where improvements are thought-required. The study used qualitative methods comprising focus groups with recovered patients and interviews with health professionals.

RESULTS

Issues we identified included a lack of knowledge, skills, integrated working, poor access to resources and ill-defined professional roles and responsibilities. Improving care and service provision requires the development of training and education programmes, care pathways and protocols, and referral guidelines and liaison services.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Difficulties over managing perinatal mental illnesses occur at all levels of healthcare provision. Our findings confirm best practice recommendations which emphasise improved joint working and the provision of specialist services in all localities.