Lucy has today welcomed the announcement of 26 new dedicated mental health hubs for expectant and bereaved mothers.
Mothers in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin will be among the first to start receiving new services under this scheme, where mothers will receive specialist care and treatment for a wide range of mental health issues.
The new hubs will bring together maternity services, reproductive health and psychological therapy under one roof as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. As well as offering psychological therapies for new and expectant mums, the clinics will also provide training for maternity staff and midwives, aiming to increase access to psychological support for women before, during and after pregnancy.
Commenting, NHS England Chief Executive said:
“The pregnancy and the birth of a new child are a special time for families but if things go wrong it can have a huge impact on women, their partners and even other children.
That is why the NHS is developing maternal mental health services to help them get back on track as part of our Long Term Plan.
NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to deal with more than 393,000 patients requiring hospital treatment for Covid-19 but we have also kept mental health services running and I am delighted that, we are now expanding help for new, expectant and bereaved mums despite the continuing pandemic.”
NHS England National Mental Health Director said:
“Every woman has a unique experience with pregnancy and motherhood and some will need extra support to cope with mental health issues that can range from anxiety to severe depression so I am delighted that mothers across all areas of the country will be able to access this help if they need it.
The NHS is here for everyone who needs help and the expansion of specialist care through the roll out of these maternal mental health services will strengthen the services already in place, enabling us to improve the quality of care and outcomes for many women.
I would encourage any mum who needs this support to come forward safe in the knowledge that her mental health and well-being are of paramount importance and she should not feel ashamed of accessing the help she needs.”
Minister for Mental Health and Maternity Safety, Nadine Dorries MP, said:
"No two women experience pregnancy or motherhood in the same way. For many it is a very happy time, but I am acutely aware additional support is often essential. Women should not be afraid to speak up so they can get the support they need."
Lucy Allan MP said:
“I am delighted to welcome this new approach to maternal mental health. It will ensure that Telford mothers can access specialist mental health support throughout all stages of their pregnancy, including postnatal care and bereavement counselling.
"This new mental health hub will be crucial in improving the quality of care for local women. All mothers – new, expectant or bereaved – should feel supported throughout this crucial and often challenging period in their lives. I will continue to work closely with local health leaders to achieve the best care for mothers in our area.”
