Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Healthcare Support Services: Conception to Age Two

15 December 2020 · 7 other contributors · 14,480 words

Opened by Andrea Leadsom Con South Northamptonshire

Responding minister: Jo Churchill

Mental HealthChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrea Leadsom raised concerns about healthcare support services: conception to age two in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned about the impact of the difficult year on children from conception to age two, citing high rates of post-natal depression among new mothers.
  • The review gathered over 3,500 responses from parents and carers, highlighting issues like isolation, limited face time with health visitors, and an increase in domestic violence cases during the lockdown.
  • The MP urges the Minister to allow new families to form support bubbles with at least two other family members or individuals, especially if they are lone parents.

Key requests to Government

The MP urges the Minister to consider allowing new families to bubble with at least two other supporting family members or individuals if they are a lone parent. She also encourages the Minister to ensure that health visitors and early years health services remain available and accessible face-to-face for everyone as the vaccine is rolled out.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrea Leadsom Con South Northamptonshire

The MP is concerned about the impact of a difficult year on the youngest and most vulnerable in society, particularly during the period from conception to age two. She cites statistics showing that up to one in seven women experience post-natal depression after having a baby. The review has gathered over 3,500 responses from parents and carers through questionnaires and virtual meetings, highlighting issues such as isolation, limited face time with health visitors, and an increase in cases of domestic violence during the lockdown period.

Other contributors (7)
  • Alex Norris Lab Co-op Nottingham North

    Mr. Norris emphasised the importance of early intervention in healthcare, citing its impact on brain development and the lifelong benefits for individuals and society. He highlighted the financial returns from well-implemented preventative services, noting a social return on investment between £2 and £9 for every £1 invested.

  • Alison Thewliss SNP Glasgow Central

    Breastfeeding support services have been neglected and underfunded, leading to a postcode lottery for women and babies in need. The National Breastfeeding Helpline saw 124% more calls between April and September compared to the previous year due to increased demand during lockdown. Ms Thewliss intervened, expressing concern about the Best Start Foods grant in England being insufficient for families who cannot afford essentials like infant formula during winter. She suggested increasing the payment immediately.

  • Cherilyn Mackrory Con South East Cornwall

    Ms Mackrory focused on the importance of continuity of carer in healthcare support, highlighting its benefits such as reducing baby loss by 16% and pre-term birth. She advocated for extending this approach to all families and integrating it into health visitor services.

  • David Linden SNP Aberdeen North

    Discussed the Scottish Government's investments in perinatal and infant mental health services, highlighting £50 million investment overseen by a programme board. He mentioned initiatives such as Best Start grants, baby boxes, nursery payments, and the Scottish child payment aimed at reducing child poverty.

  • Fiona Bruce Con Congleton

    Ms Fiona Bruce commended her colleague for securing the debate and highlighted the importance of family hubs in providing early childhood support. She cited a report from the Early Intervention Foundation, which supports holistic approaches to delivering local family services. She emphasized the need for community infrastructure that allows families to access support easily during challenging times such as the pandemic. Ms Bruce mentioned specific examples like perinatal mental health teams and JobCentre advisors being co-located within the service. The Minister is making an important point about the undervaluation of parenthood and ensuring children have a good start in life. She also asks if the Minister recognises the need for a dedicated Minister for families at Cabinet level to coordinate efforts across different Government Departments.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon highlighted the importance of prenatal and early childhood support, emphasizing that mothers make significant changes before a baby arrives to ensure its wellbeing. He mentioned over 100,000 babies admitted annually to neonatal intensive care in the UK, with an average of 1,267 neonatal deaths each year requiring palliative care. Shannon praised initiatives like the NHS England children's hospice grant and the WAVE Trust's 70/30 Campaign aimed at reducing child maltreatment. The Minister is thanked for her response and Jim Shannon highlights the importance of church and community groups in providing support, particularly through mother and tots provision. He acknowledges their contribution to both those of faith and no faith.

  • Tim Loughton Con East Worthing and Shoreham

    Emphasised the importance of healthcare support services for children from conception to age two, highlighting the significant economic cost of neglecting this critical period. Cited statistics on mental health issues, domestic violence, child obesity rates, and vaccination coverage during pregnancy and early childhood. Raised concerns about the reduction in face-to-face contact due to the pandemic and the overburdened state of health visitors.

Government Response

Jo Churchill

Thanked right hon. Member for South Northamptonshire and others; highlighted variations in child development achievements across regions; discussed impact of coronavirus on new parents, isolation, loss of support mechanisms; supported health visitors' role; emphasised data sharing and digital services importance; mentioned family hubs, cross-Government working; outlined steps to improve healthcare outcomes including vaccination programmes; addressed support bubbles for single adult households; recognised domestic violence's impact; looked forward to review in January.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy