Published: May 2024
Guidance on improving access to maternity care for women affected by charging
This guidance, produced by Maternity Action, Royal College of Midwives and RCOG, supports NHS Trusts in England to implement NHS charging guidance with the minimum impact on pregnant women and people’s care, an important part of tackling persistent inequalities in maternity outcomes and experiences
The RCOG has long called for an end to the UK Government policy of charging some pregnant women and people for maternity care, often those already at risk of poorer outcomes. The threat of charging is known to deter pregnant women and people from accessing essential and time-critical antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, and can leave women at increased vulnerability to domestic abuse and exploitative relationships.
While these charging regulations do remain in place, NHS Trusts have an important role in minimising their impact. This can include ensuring care is never refused or delayed and supporting affected women to feel safe accessing care.
Shaped by obstetricians and midwives to ensure its relevance to day-to-day delivery of care, the guidance is designed to support NHS Trusts’ overseas visitor teams and finance departments to make changes to their policies and practices.