Stafford MP Theo Clarke has welcomed the health secretary’s commitment to a “laser-like focus on birth trauma” following her successful campaign to have the issue include in the Women’s Health Strategy. Theo has been campaigning for more physical and mental help and support for new mums following her own traumatic experience when she gave birth to her daughter in 2022.
One of her key asks and that of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on birth trauma she is co-chair of was for it to be recognised in the strategy. Theo and many mums who have suffered from birth trauma were in the audience as the health secretary spoke.
Announcing the inclusion of birth trauma and a raft of other measures to improve women’s health Victoria Atkins said: “This commitment…requires a laser-like focus on birth trauma.
“Some mums endure simply unacceptable care and live with the consequences of that trauma for the rest of their lives. Some have told their stories to the media – harrowing experiences of tears, prolapses, operations and agony to shine a light on the impact of such experiences. Some of those amazing mums are here today in the audience. You deserve our thanks, our admiration – and our applause. And the importance of women speaking up for other women is demonstrated with the work of my colleague Theo Clarke".
“Theo suffered a horribly traumatic birth and when she regained her strength and returned to work, she called a debate in the House of Commons on birth trauma – the first ever in the centuries of our Parliament! And when you spoke, Theo, women around the country heard you and responded, sharing their stories too. Theo is now leading an inquiry into birth trauma on behalf of Parliament, with the backing of the Birth Trauma Association and I encourage any mother who has been through a traumatic birth to share their story with this inquiry.”
The health secretary said the government wanted to take care of the physical injuries caused in traumatic childbirths and would roll out comprehensive physical care for those who experience serious tears during childbirth by March.
Specialist maternal mental health services will also be available to women in every part of England by March.
“But sometimes, a simple and thoughtful question is what is needed - “Are you ok, Mum?” the minister said. “This year, every woman who gives birth will get a comprehensive check up with their GP within eight weeks, focused solely on her mental and physical health – in other words, asking her if she’s ok.”
Theo said: “I am absolutely delighted at these measures and many others that will help and support new mums and recognise what they have gone through so that what happened to me and many others across the country does not happen again. This a big day for women’s health and I would like to thank everyone who has come forward to tell their stories and campaigned with me to get to this point. I would like to thank ministers for listening and understanding what an important subject this is and that action will save lives and livelihoods and allow women the best chance of recovery, to live their lives and be the best mums they can be”.
Other measures in the strategy included plans to prevent maternal and baby deaths. A Maternity Safety Support Programme to give underperforming trusts assistance before serious safety issues arise. Fourteen Maternal Medicine Networks will be set up across England to ensure that women with medical conditions that pre-date or develop during pregnancy will receive specialist care. The government also pledged to build better guidance on endometriosis for healthcare professionals, so they can offer women the right treatment at the right time. And there will be an expansion of Women’s Health Hubs across England. Women will be able to benefit from faster, simpler and fairer comprehensive care for menstrual problems, menopause, conditions like endometriosis and contraception.
You can read what Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/womens-health-strategy-prioritie…;
