Psychological aspects of miscarriage: attitudes of the primary health care team.

A questionnaire surveying the attitudes of general practitioners, health visitors, community midwives and district nurses towards the psychological aspects of miscarriage was distributed to a random sample of 50 staff in each professional group. The response rate was 78%. A large majority of all staff surveyed (76%) agreed that miscarriage is frequently associated with significant psychological distress and 90% agreed that women should be routinely encouraged to explore and discuss their feelings following such an event. Overall, health visitors and community midwives were seen to be the most appropriate members of the primary health care team to offer such counselling. The gap between perceived need and provision of care for women who have had a miscarriage is highlighted, and ways of narrowing this are discussed.