Sir, I am writing with regard to a recent case which has highlighted the opportunity for the dental team to be involved in true holistic patient care. In this scenario, helping to ensure that a pregnant woman was receiving appropriate antenatal care, thereby serving as a safety net for a vulnerable adult.

During my first week of vocational training, a woman in her early twenties presented with a florid pregnancy epulis; she was unable to eat and was eight months pregnant. A referral was made to the local oral surgery unit where the lesion was successfully excised within a week. Following the surgery, the surgeon enquired about the patient's pregnancy, which was met with a vague answer. Further investigation revealed that the patient had not accessed any antenatal care or even visited her GP – this raised concerns about her social circumstances, which unfortunately turned out to be valid. There exists a duty to safeguard vulnerable adults and children (and unborn babies).1 This patient's lack of antenatal care alerted us to her social circumstances; failure to access appropriate medical care constitutes neglect.2

I feel GDPs are well-placed to enquire about a patient's pregnancy and the care they are receiving. Just as we routinely give smoking cessation advice to patients who smoke, it surely makes sense to ask about antenatal care in pregnant patients. Something as simple as 'have you been for your scan?' can flag up individuals who may belong to – previously undetected – complex social circumstances and then help to facilitate access to the appropriate social and medical services. Credit to the observant surgeon who identified the patient's absence from antenatal care; she has now been given access to both obstetric and social care.