NHS England: Pelvic floor physiotherapy will see improved services by March 2024

Far too many women were rushed into mesh sling surgery for stress incontinence after birth when pelvic floor physiotherapy could have fixed or eased the problem.

In France, women are offered pelvic floor physiotherapy after childbirth as standard.

A recent question to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care asked what assessment the Department has made of the potential benefits of offering new mothers pelvic floor physiotherapy.

This question was answered on 15 November 2022:

"The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance recognises that physiotherapy is important for the prevention and treatment of pelvic floor problems relating to pregnancy and birth. The NHS Long Term Plan committed to ensure that women have access to multidisciplinary pelvic health clinics and pathways in England.

NHS England is deploying perinatal pelvic health services to improve the prevention, identification and access to physiotherapy for pelvic health issues antenatally and postnatally. Two-thirds of local maternity and neonatal systems are expected to establish these services by the end of March 2023, with full deployment in England expected by March 2024."

Source: Parallel Parliament, 15 November 2022