Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) improve awareness of pelvic organ prolapse and (b) increase support for those suffering with that condition.

Improving awareness of women’s health conditions is a priority in the strategy. In July, a women’s health area was created on the National Health Service website, bringing together over 100 topics including pages on pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. In addition, a pelvic organ prolapse patient information leaflet has been produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to support patients with information and aims to help them better understand their health and their options for treatment and care.

We are working to improve services for pelvic floor dysfunction. We are investing £25 million to establish at least one women’s health hub across every integrated care system. The core specification for these hubs, published on 21 July, sets out pessary fitting and removal as a key service to provide in hubs. It recommends that local systems consider building further pelvic organ prolapse care into their hub model, including assessment, conservative management such as pelvic floor physiotherapy and, if needed, referral to specialist services.

The NHS Long Term Plan also set out a commitment to ensure that women have access to multidisciplinary pelvic health clinics and pathways across England. NHS England is currently rolling out Perinatal Pelvic Health Services, which aim to improve prevention, identification and access to physiotherapy for pelvic health issues antenatally and postnatally. Full rollout across England is expected by March 2024.