Not Commissioned Report

National FASD has released a new report on 9/9/2024, international FASD awareness day. Not Commissioned: Systemic confusion in NHS services for alcohol, pregnancy and FASD is a biennial progress report on NICE Quality Standard 204 based on Freedom of Information requests.

The report shows that the majority of NHS Integrated Care Boards and NHS Trusts are missing a golden opportunity to protect baby’s brains and futures with their slow, non-strategic and uncoordinated responses to the 2022 NICE Quality Standard 204 on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

NICE QS 204 is in effect in England and Wales and calls for improvements in care regarding discussions about risks of alcohol in pregnancy during antenatal visits and recognition, diagnosis and support of those with FASD.

While there are pockets of hope and encouraging progress, which are highlighted in depth in the report so other areas can gain insight from best practice, more broadly there is systemic confusion and a lack of coordination and commissioning across the NHS. The report features case studies to demonstrate the importance of NICE QS 204 and includes a call to action from National FASD.