Call to action
 Demand
that the government finance a health education campaign with clear
and consistent messaging on the importance of taking folic acid
for the entire population - but particularly women of child-bearing
age, using innovative and effective methods to target this multifaceted
audience (such as, posters on the back of public toilet doors, folic
acid health messages on the bottom of prescriptions).
Key healthcare
professional groups should identify their responsibility to routinely
discuss and recommend folic acid supplementation to all women who
are ovulating and are sexually active at appropriate contacts. These
include:
. General Practitioners
. Gynaecologists and obstetricians
. Health visitors
. Midwives
. Pharmacists
. Practice nurses
. School nurses
. Sexual health and family planning doctors
. Sexual health and family planning nurses
Healthcare
professional organisations (the Royal College of Nurses, the Royal
College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Midwives
and the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association)
to be involved in the continuing education of their respective memberships
on the importance of advising when women should be taking folic
acid. In addition:
. CPHVA be asked to recommend incorporating folic acid education
as a key area to be recorded at health visitor appointments with
pregnant women
. RCN, Midwifery Society and RCM be asked to support incorporating
information on folic acid uptake in the midwives' national case
notes that are currently being devised
. All professional organisations to regularly educate their memberships
through their respective communications channels
All relevant
primary healthcare professionals should ensure (within 48 hours
of notification) via the most appropriate medium, such as telephone,
an immediate consultation for any pregnant woman that already has
a NTD baby/genetic predisposition, or provide detailed advice on
pregnancy including the issuing of a prescription for 5mg folic
acid
Call upon
manufacturers of sanitary products, pregnancy and ovulation testing
kits, and baby formula companies to include a simple, consistent
message on the importance of taking folic acid preconception and
during early pregnancy within the packaging of their products
Call upon
food manufacturers producing foods fortified with folic acid to
incorporate a clear and consistent message on the importance of
taking folic acid pre-conception and during early pregnancy as part
of the information on the packaging
Folic Acid
Action to spearhead a media campaign (print and broadcast including
writing features in consumer and healthcare professional press)
to increase awareness and education amongst childbearing women on
folic acid
Folic Acid
Action examine feasibility of conducting conduct an audit of services
to develop the rationale for piloting enhanced pregnancy services
(from preplanning to post-natal) through the new GP contract
Call upon
the Department of Health to develop Primary Care Trust (PCT) targets
for increasing folic acid supplementation and uptake in women of
child-bearing age
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