COVID-19

NHS England advises that pregnant women are still at higher risk of severe illness and complications from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended in pregnancy, to protect both mother and baby. The vaccine reduces the risk of either mother or baby developing COVID-19. Only one vaccine dose is needed during every pregnancy occurring between September and March.

GP practices are encouraged to discuss, and offer where appropriate, the COVID-19 vaccination to all pregnant patients seen in practices, who haven’t already been vaccinated by maternity units.

Guidance on Pregnancy and COVID-19 which can be shared with pregnant women can be found on the NHS.uk website: Pregnancy and COVID-19 - NHS

UKHSA has produced a poster on Pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccination which can be displayed on websites, in waiting rooms on waiting room screens (see Downloads*)

Other resources

Resources for clinicians:

• Perinatal Institute: Education and guidelines
• RCOG: The investigation and management of the small-for-gestational-age fetus
• NICE Guidelines relating to fertility/pregnancy/childbirth
• Acute care toolkit 15: Managing acute medical problems in pregnancy
• Evidence-based safety information about medication, vaccine, chemical and radiological exposures in pregnancy

For up-to-date information on maternity services in NCL, parents-to-be can go directly to:

• NCL Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS)
• My Health London website

For more general information on maternity services, patients can visit:

• Mummy's Star: Cancer support during pregnancy, birth and baby loss
• Birth Choice UK
• NHS Choices

Area specific guidance for Camden

The focus for maternity services is to standardise early pregnancy assessment units to improve access and avoid women ending up in A&E. The Better Births Community Hub in Camden (Harmood Children’s Centre) will be a pilot site to test the proposed model for continuity of care. See the Better Births newsletter in Downloads for more information.

Resources for patients:

• Camden Maternity Services.