The NHS Long Term Plan set out a commitment to “improve access to postnatal physiotherapy to support women who need it to recover from birth” and to “ensure that women have access to multidisciplinary pelvic health clinics and pathways across England”.

Perinatal pelvic health services lead local delivery of this ambition, and are responsible for improving the prevention, identification, and referral to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended treatment for pelvic health problems during pregnancy and at least one year following birth. The aim is to reduce the number of women living with pelvic health problems postnatally and in later life.

28 of the 42 local maternity and neonatal systems have been piloting the development of perinatal pelvic health services as either early implementers or fast followers. For 2023/24, the Three year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services includes a requirement for integrated care boards to “commission and implement perinatal pelvic health services by March 2024, in line with national service specifications”.

For more information, please see:

• The national service specification for perinatal pelvic health services
• Implementation guidance for establishing perinatal pelvic health services ([to be published soon)