Objectives: To conduct an economic evaluation comparing a traditional antenatal visiting schedule (traditional care) with a reduced schedule of visits (new style care) for women at low risk of complications.
Methods: Economic evaluation using the results of a randomised controlled trial, the Antenatal Care Project. This took place between 1993 and 1994 in antenatal clinics in South East London and involved 2794 women at low risk of complications.
Results: The estimated baseline costs to the UK National Health Service (NHS) for the traditional schedule were 544 Pounds per woman, of which 251 Pounds occurred antenatally, with a range of 327-1203 Pounds per woman. The estimated baseline costs to the NHS for the reduced visit schedule was 563 Pounds per woman, of which 225 Pounds occurred antenatally, with a range of 274-1741 Pounds per woman. Savings from new style care that arose antenatally were offset by the greater numbers of babies in this group who required special or intensive care. Sensitivity analyses based on possible variations in unit costs and resource use and modelled postnatal stay showed considerable variation and substantial overlap in costs.
Conclusions: Patterns of antenatal care involving fewer routine visits for women at low risk of complications are unlikely to result in savings to the Health Service. In addition, women who had the reduced schedule of care reported greater dissatisfaction with their care and poorer psychosocial outcomes which argues against reducing numbers of antenatal visits.