#PND screening process likely to be much more effective under a #Labour government

It was announced yesterday that doctors at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust have identified the first advance blood test for postnatal depression.  This offers a long awaited breakthrough.  Being able to screen pregnant women for propensity to PND, will mean treatment for depression can commence even before the mother has given birth, which is clearly to be welcomed.

However, given this particular government's apparent lack of compassion for those who are vulnerable, such as the 3,500 disabled people ATOS ruled fit for work and the Department of Work and Pensions virtually hounded into their graves, will vulnerable new mums feel comfortable coming forward to talk about their poor mental health, with all the possible implication this may have for their families?  All the evidence points to government officials blaming vulnerable people for their illness, ordering them not to be so lazy and demonising them in the media.

New mothers might be reluctant to draw attention to their own mental health problems, while the Tories are still in power, fearing all sorts of nightmarish consequences and concluding this government never puts any actual support in place, even when people do have the courage to stand up and say they're unwell.

Trusted by the public, Shadow Health Minister, Andy Burnham

On reflection, perhaps this screening process would be much more effective under a Labour government, who do have a better record when it comes to looking after those with mental health problems and we should look forward to Andy Burnham working to make this test available to all pregnant women, along with effective treatment on the NHS so that we can start to reduce the misery of postnatal depression for as many families as possible.  

A recent poll put Labour 30 points ahead when the public were asked who they trusted on health.


If you think you, or someone you care about, might be suffering from postnatal depression, you can get good, confidential support from the following:

Mind
Post Natal Illness
Mothers for Mothers
House of Light - PND support