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The author comments on a study which examined the screening program for sickle cell disease established by Great Britain's National Health Service (NHS), by E. Dormandy and colleagues, published within the issue. The study compared three antenatal screening approaches which are parallel testing, sequential testing and midwifery care. The author explains the problems associated with screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. She also highlights the implications of the study findings for general practitioners.

The article offers information on the rapid response report (RRR) summary for the pregnancy checking before the surgery according to the National Patient Safety Agency in Great Britain. It mentions that the safety report summary provides information with regards to the need to check pregnancy in patient as a precautionary measure to avoid risk that surgical interventions can bring. It refers an incident which occurred in Wales and England wherein the pregnant patients have undergone a surgery without documented pregnancy check that resulted to miscarriage. It states various recommendations for individual clinicians to ensure safe surgery which include offering of pregnancy test, referring to the antenatal services, and documented pregnancy test.

The article discusses a study which examined the effectiveness of antenatal screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia in primary care. The study included 1,708 pregnant women from deprived inner city areas in Great Britain. Study authors found that antenatal screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia in primary care increases the rate of women being screened before 10 weeks' gestation.

The article focuses on the recommendation of Great Britain National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for a more flexible antenatal services, referencing to the report "The NICE Guideline on Pregnancy and Complex Social Factors."

The author argues in favor of offering a routine HIV testing in general practice in Great Britain. He cites several factors that contribute to the difficulty of promoting HIV testing across the country, such as difficult access of specialist services needed for pre-test counselling. He mentions developments that can be used to promote HIV testing including antiretrovirals and the success of antenatal testing. The author also asserts that HIV testing in general practice can be done because of the access to the whole population.