End of free NHS ante-natal classes In Norfolk

[Ali1cedowntherabbithole]

Coming up on BBC look East soon.

FFS.

Safety & comfort of women and infants anyone?

Who needs Ante-natal input the most? Not the people who can pay for it.

It can't even be sensible health economics. It is likely to lead to an increase in birth complications including sections.

Why on earth would the NHS cut something like this? So shortsighted.

That's madness.

Also in the grande scheme of the NHS it's hardly going to save much money and is likely to lead to more post natal support being required.

Bonkers.

Just seen the piece- apparently it's available for free online.

Once again, not the best way to reach those most at risk.

And what about maternal mental health? Computers can't eye-ball women to assess if they are anxious or struggling.

Well they’ll still be having antenatal appts where any mental health issues or other issues will be supported. More so than in an antenatal class which typically is a one off class so no relationship built up. Plus women are unlikely to disclose issues in a group set up.

Putting the classes online makes them more accessible for people struggling with jobs, can’t afford to travel to the hospital in a rural county, parking charges, no babysitter for an older child. Available at home any time instead.

The main downside I can see is lack of opportunity to maybe make a friend? But ime this won’t happen in a one off class anyway.....more likely if it’s a course of classes but that’s not been the norm in the nhs for some time in many areas. I think baby classes, sure start centres with a newborn are where you’re more likely to meet people.

It is likely to lead to an increase in birth complications including sections.

Really? Not convinced that antenatal classes make much difference to this tbh. I can imagine that it might not be good for newborn babies' health though if parents aren't taught about feeding, safe sleeping etc.

That's madness.

Yep.

Good grief

I had babies in Norfolk more than 10 years ago. We had one 1 hour NHS antenatal class, in working hours, there were three of us there and it was a waste of time & money. V broad and basic. No time for chatting, no advice on what to do once the baby has arrived.

Think the cost benefit analysis will really depend on how well the in-person classes performed. I could see them being very ineffective at reaching people too. For the money, online classes you can do in your own time may be much better for all sorts of women including the ones who stand to benefit the most from them. But it’s also quite possible for online ones to be a bit useless. I don’t think there is a good basis to dismiss the move to online out of hand, though.

I suppose the main questions n wouid be how good is the rural broadband in Norfolk, and what %age of the population are not reliably online.

NHS classes, which are one or two sessions, in an overcrowded room with no personal attention and limited opportunity for anynquestiins at all (and with a standard answer to what questions they have time for 'ask your MW at your next appointment'), are not necessarily making that much difference.

Back to basics wouid be to ask 'how do we ensure that accurate information is readily accessible?' and 'are the norms of the pre-internet era still valid?'

Have you ever been to a NHS antenatal class? The people who tend to be bothered to go are the same people who also buy NCT classes. I doubt any NHS antenatal class helps the type of people they are designed to help. Children’s Centres do a lot more for people with low incomes / on benefits / with complex social care needs and a lot of hospital trusts have preferred to focus funding there for years.

How would missing a useless one hour session lead to birth complication? Your baby and uterus wouldn’t know if you’d been or not?

I think baby classes, sure start centres with a newborn are where you’re more likely to meet people.

Yes - but funding has been cut for those too.

There are obvious social benefits to a face to face class allowing women to meet each other. They should have both online and offline options.