Lack of Specialist Support for Women with Poor Pelvic Health due to NHS ‘Postcode Lottery’

The lack of specialist support for women with poor pelvic health in England is causing concern as a new report reveals a ‘postcode lottery’ within the NHS. Despite a commitment from the Government to have Perinatal Pelvic Health Services (PPHS) available nationwide by April 2024, only two-thirds of Integrated Care Boards have commissioned these services.

The Women’s Health Strategy, published in December 2021, indicated that all areas of England were on track to implement PPHS by March, but only 28 out of 42 pilot sites are currently active. This leaves many women without access to the support they need, as one in three mums in the UK experience urinary incontinence and 60% report at least one symptom of poor pelvic health.

Research by women’s health brand Elvie has shown that a quarter of new mothers in the UK did not do any pelvic floor exercises in the six months following childbirth, with only 11% following NHS guidance to do daily kegel exercises. Elvie’s Founder, Tania Boler, highlighted the impact of poor pelvic health on women’s quality of life, emphasizing the need for accessible specialist services.

To address this issue, Boler and other activists have published an open letter urging policy-makers in Westminster to invest further in treatment options for women with pelvic health issues. The letter has garnered support from women’s health advocates, NHS workers, and even Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill.

The Government has pledged £18 per woman giving birth in England and Wales each year to support pelvic health services. However, the current lack of available treatment options and limited dialogue around pelvic health means that many women are suffering in silence. It is crucial for policymakers to prioritize women’s health and ensure that all women have access to the specialist support they need.