The Lancet (1 June 2019) UK: New Report Card could mark Governments’ progress in improving preconception health. Summary: There is growing interest in preconception health as a crucial period for influencing not only pregnancy outcomes, but also future maternal and child health, and prevention of long-term medical conditions. Successive national and international policy documents emphasise the need to improve preconception health, but resources and action have not followed through with these goals.