Postnatal Care: Pelvic Health Clinics

(asked on 26th February 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of potential demand for pelvic health clinics.


Answered by
Nadine Dorries Portrait
Nadine Dorries
This question was answered on 4th March 2020

NHS England advise that academic research indicates that a significant number of women experience incontinence and other pelvic floor conditions following pregnancy. Through feedback from National Health Service staff and patient representatives, NHS England have assessed that there is a need for the NHS to do more to help women recover from the physical impact of pregnancy.

Local Maternity Systems have all been asked to develop a local plan to improve postnatal care and they have been specifically asked to consider pelvic health as part of this. In addition, the NHS Long Term Plan commits investment to ensure that women have access to multidisciplinary pelvic health clinics and pathways. These clinics will be available in limited areas from 2020/21 and rolled out across the country by 2023/24.

NHS England and the British Medical Association have agreed a 6-8 week postnatal maternal check for all mothers from 1 April. This will including a focus on pelvic health, which should help improve rates of detection postnatally.

Reticulating Splines