The BSUG co-hosted a Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS) leads event

7th March 2025

On the 18th December 2024 BSUG’s had the privilege of co-hosting a Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS) leads event with NHSE at Mary Ward House in London.
Attendance at the event was offered to three team members of PPHS from each ICB in the UK. This joint meeting was developed following BSUG’s being asked by NHSE to help develop a multi-professional forum / network for PPHS clinical staff.

The morning session led by NHSE highlighted the role and commitment of multiple organisations in the development of perinatal pelvic health services with talks from Charlie Podschies (National Lead for PPHS), Kate Brintworth (Chief Midwifery Officer for NHSE), Donald Peebles (National Clinical Director for Maternity), Ranee Thakar (President of the RCOG), Birte Harlev-Lam (Executive Director RCM), Danielle Alebon (POGP) and Paula Cowan (National Primary Care lead for Women’s Health).

There were two incredibly powerful talks from services users highlighting why these services are essential and the difference they can make. Following these, updates from three current PPHS services detailing collaboration with other services, integration of PPHS into current services and developing governance structures were discussed with the whole group allowing comparison between services and sharing challenges experiences.

The event provided the ideal platform to launch the Perinatal Pelvic Health Self-Assessment Questionnaire (PPHSAQ) which was commissioned by NHSE and was developed and was presented by Alan Uren and Nikki Cotterill from the International Consultation on Consultation Questionnaire (ICIQ) group. This can be accessed PPHSAQ | ICIQ

The afternoon was led by BSUG’s and was attended by many members of the executive committee. Following an introduction to the organisation and the Allied Health Professionals (AHP) committee by Ashish Pradhan and Angie Rantell, Azar Khunda chaired a scientific update for the attendees with presentations from Ranee Thakar on Post partum sexual difficulties and Grainne Donnelly on how to return to exercise post partum.

The final part of the day focused on round table discussions. Ivilina Pandeva, Hayser Medina Lucena and Charlie Podshies led the session on Quality Improvement in Perinatal Pelvic Health Services, focusing on strategies to enhance care delivery and sustainability. Angie Rantell, Ashish Pradhan and Emma Crookes finished the day with discussions to help understand what clinicians want from a forum / network, how information can be shared / accessed and to promote AHP membership to BSUG’s. This also resulted in recruitment to the AHP committee and will be used to help the committee to develop future education / content.

Overall, the event brought together an inspiring group of healthcare professionals dedicated to improving perinatal pelvic health outcomes and highlighted the power of collaboration in advancing care and services for women.