Speaker: Marcus Green, CEO, APEC (UK)
We often hear the statement, “I wish I knew…” What is the most common sentiment women and family members express in your region?
Marcus Green: We worked very hard in the United Kingdom to make sure as many women as possible know about preeclampsia and that their clinicians give them appropriate advice whenever possible. However, we do know that sometimes women don't get the message is don't hear the messages and need to hear them again. And that is why we try our very best to get messages across about preeclampsia. So people know the signs and symptoms. We constantly work on telling them what those are.
Do mothers in your region experience mental and emotional problems after preeclampsia? What is done for them or what do they do about it?
Marcus Green: There is no doubt that women experience all manner of emotional problems after preeclampsia. And one of our jobs as a patient advocacy organization is to make sure that we are there for those women. We are able to help and we are able to give good advice. There is support available in the U. K. It could be better, but we have to do what we can we can do. Many women will turn to family or friends for advice and support. They will ask other people, But what's most important is they do get the help that they need.
Are the mothers in your region aware of preeclampsia's long term risks like heart disease? If so, what kind of care do they receive?
Marcus Green: Over the last few years, the evidence base has been growing for long term health complications arising from preeclampsia. And I think that we are beginning to spread the message about this and get people to understand what is happening. What they need to be aware of. What we say to women is that they should at least be checking their blood pressure on an annual basis probably more frequently than that. And if they have got problems, they should be talking to their caregiver and their and their GP and making sure they're getting the support and help that they need. It's very important that people who have had preeclampsia take good care of themselves and we sometimes get a whole host of different people with different experiences and um we we we try and be there to support them.
What is the most pressing patient need in your country related to preeclampsia?
Marcus Green: I think the most pressing patient need in the country at the moment when it comes to preeclampsia here is that we do more research, we find out more about it. We learn more every day and the more we can build on that knowledge, the more that we can understand the condition and we can help women to get the support and care they need. It's we were very lucky in the United Kingdom. We have a fine national health service, so women do have access to good quality care, but it can always be better and well, we continue to work hard to provide women with the very best care that we can.
