The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7477 p519
10 November 2007

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Birmingham pharmacies to help cut infant mortality

Nearly 50 community pharmacies in Birmingham have been recruited to a scheme to try to reduce infant mortality rates by helping pregnant women get early antenatal appointments.

The 46 pharmacies offer free pregnancy tests with referral to a fast-track booking system for women who test positive. The pharmacies also offer a free pregnancy advice package and three months’ supply of folic acid supplements.

Those whose tests are negative are offered advice on contraception, free condoms and the importance of taking folic acid before they become pregnant is explained.

The Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Partnership, an alliance of the three primary care trusts in Birmingham, the city’s council, and voluntary and community sector partners, which is behind the scheme, wants to double to 80 per cent the percentage of women who get an antenatal appointment before their 12th week of pregnancy. The purpose is to improve the city’s infant mortality statistics, which are among the worst in England.

Noordin Ladha, of Noor Pharmacy, Edgbaston, said: “We’ve been with the scheme since a pilot began six months ago and the results have been encouraging. It’s very important to detect a pregnancy at an early stage and to refer people on to antenatal care so that they can be monitored appropriately. If people are not referred early, that can result in high infant mortality.”

He added that there was a danger that language difficulties could lead to a lack of understanding of what help is available in areas with large ethnic minority populations and many new immigrants, such as Birmingham.

Annette Williamson, programme lead for infant mortality, said: “Seeing mums-to-be early in their pregnancy means any potential problems can be picked up at an early stage. We hope that this new service will encourage pregnant women to pop into one of the pharmacies and get referred to their midwife at this crucial time in their pregnancy so that they can get the help and support they need.”