NHS England pledges specialist mental health services for new mums across England
NHS England has confirmed that new and expectant mothers will be able to access specialist perinatal mental health community services in every part of the country by April next year.
The health service is now spending £23 million rolling out the second wave of community perinatal services to underserved parts of the country and is on course to achieve full geographical coverage.
This funding forms part of a package of measures, worth a total of £365 million by 2021, to transform specialist perinatal services so that at least 30,000 additional women can access evidence based treatment that is closer to home and available when they need it, through specialist community services and inpatient mother and baby units.
The funding builds on £40 million previously allocated to 20 sites in 2016 to establish new or expand current specialist perinatal mental health community services – with over 7,000 mums accessing expert care and treatment so far. While some areas are taking a phased approach to the development of services, a plan for full provision has been promised by 2021.