Expanded specialist mental health support for new mums will make a difference, says Mental Health Network
Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, which is part of the NHS Confederation, said: “The expansion of specialist mental health support for new mums to cover the whole of the country will make a tangible difference to the fifth of new and expectant mums who experience perinatal mental health issues which, without effective treatment, can have devastating long-term effects on entire families.
“It is important progress and shows we are on the right path to providing vital outstanding care for all parents and prospective parents up and down the country. Our members are already doing impressive work in this area, such as Devon Partnership NHS Trust, which runs the Mother and Baby unit in Exeter where mothers can stay with their babies while receiving treatment.
“There is still some way to go, however, not least in making sure we have the right staff in the right numbers in the right places.”
