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<p>The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
to produce a Quality Standard in England (QS204) for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
(FASD) to help the health and care system improve both diagnosis and care of those
affected. As well as covering the assessment and diagnosis of FASD, the Quality Standard
covers support during pregnancy to improve awareness and prevent the disorder. It
was published in March 2022, and is available at the following link:</p><p>https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs204</p><p>
</p><p>The UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines published in 2016
provide clear advice to women not to drink alcohol if they are planning for a pregnancy
or are pregnant, and these are available at the following link:</p><p>https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf</p><p>
</p><p>This message is also included in the patient information leaflet recommended
for use when giving brief advice to any adult identified as drinking above low risk
levels, and in the National Health Service public-facing health information pages.
These are available at the following links:</p><p>https://khub.net/web/phe-national/public-library/-/document_library/v2WsRK3ZlEig/view_file/377334553</p><p>https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/drinking-alcohol-while-pregnant/</p><p>
</p><p>The Department is currently consulting on the first ever UK clinical guidelines
for alcohol treatment. The guidelines set out how maternity, alcohol treatment and
other healthcare professionals should support women to reduce or stop their alcohol
use as quickly and safely as possible, to reduce the ongoing exposure of the foetus
to alcohol and the risk and severity of future disability. More information is available
at the following link:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/uk-clinical-guidelines-for-alcohol-treatment</p><p>
</p><p>Additionally, the Maternity Disparities Taskforce is currently producing a
resource for pre-conception care for women from minority ethnic communities and those
living in the most deprived areas. This guidance will include information on drinking
in pregnancy.</p>
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