§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts routinely use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at post-natal examinations; and what advice his Department has given on the use of this scale. [107142]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 27 January 2000]: The information requested is not available centrally. The Department has not issued advice specifically on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
We recognise the role of health visitors and midwives in assessing and supporting mothers with post-natal depression. The National Service Framework for mental health, published in September 1999, includes evidence on effective ways of reducing the risks of post-natal depression and sets a target for all health authorities to have protocols agreed and implemented between primary care and specialist services for management of depression and post-natal depression by April 2001.