New mothers deserve better
New survey spurs campaign for better treatment of new mothers
Clinical research suggests that 30% of new mothers will suffer lasting problems with Urinary Stress Incontinence but a recent survey by health author Janey Lee Grace, as part of her research for a new book, revealed that it was the biggest problem affecting new mothers with over 50% experiencing embarrassing leaks.
15,000 new mothers every week look for effective help and advice on how to get back to full health and fitness after childbirth, but the lack of any pro-active NHS programme of pelvic floor rehabilitation means that every week between 5,000 and 7,500 new mothers will succumb to the lifelong embarrassment of ‘accidental’ urine leaks.
GPs contributing to the problem
In a recent survey of GP practices, 62% of women seeking help and advice for pelvic floor problems received the standard NHS approach of an information leaflet. . This approach does not meet any NICE guidelines and there is no clinical evidence that it offers any real help. It is also in total contrast to the French system where every new mother receives vouchers for 10 one-on-one sessions with a specialist physiotherapist.
The survey of GP practices also highlighted that fewer than half (48%) of practices could correctly identify the current NICE Guidelines that recommend that women be individually assessed, trained and supervised by a specialist in a three month programme of Pelvic Floor Exercise (PFEs). Only 20% actually refer patients to physiotherapy or a continence nurse for such treatment.
Fewer than 2% of practices are prescribing the easily available PelvicToner device that offers the greatest hope of a rapid improvement of pelvic floor muscle tone, and is clinically proven to be as effective as supervised PFEs but at a tenth of the cost. All new mothers and any women with stress incontinence or symptoms associated with pelvic floor muscle weakness can ask their GP to prescribe a PelvicToner™. New mothers will receive their PelvicToner free of charge on presentation of a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate.
For those women too embarrassed to discuss the matter with their GP, the PelvicToner costs just GBP31.99 (including p&p) and can be purchased from www.pelvictoner.co.uk, 0117 974 3534 and all good pharmacies.
5000 potential new cases every week
Stress incontinence is still a taboo subject and many women will just not discuss the matter with their GP, partners, friends or colleagues. And the problem is huge. There are over 7,000,000 women in the UK with the problem and every week 15,000 new mums are in urgent need of sound advice so that they do not join this growing total. Unfortunately, 5000 or more will – every week!
Pelvic floor rehabilitation in new mums is a matter of great importance yet, universally, this group are not being offered positive help and advice.
One of the greatest concerns identified by the recent practice survey is that very few GPs are even aware of the first major advance in the NHS primary care treatment of SUI for over 60 years.
A simple and effective solution
The PelvicToner™ offers much improved outcomes for the women who use it and brings significant cost benefits to the NHS. Prescribing the PelvicToner in the first instance could and should save the NHS GBP millions and enable the NHS to focus scarce resources such as Continence Advisors, specialist physiotherapists, urologists and surgeons on the most urgent cases.
The PelvicToner is the first and only pelvic toning device to be recognized by the NHS and a special new category of ‘Pelvic Toning Devices’ was created on the Drug Tariff IXA.
Professor Marcus Drake of the Bristol Urology Institute, and the author of the clinical research published in the British Journal of Urology, says: "continence service provision is patchy and this sort of product empowers women, gives them better privacy and the prospect of not wasting their time. In our study the PelvicToner aided women to identify their pelvic floor confidently. It increases patient choice and may promote subsequent compliance and sustained efficacy.”
Facebook to the rescue
The manufacturers of the PelvicToner have launched a Facebook campaign – “New mothers deserve better” - to draw attention to the problem supported by Twitter (@mothersdeserve).
Barry Fowler, MD of PelvicToner manufacturer SPM Ltd, said: "The PelvicToner has been available on prescription for over a year and the cost-benefits to the NHS are well-established. With 15,000 new mums each week, pelvic floor rehabilitation is a major issue yet both GP budgets and their patients are suffering because of the entrenched view that a sheet of exercises is a sufficient treatment.''
The PelvicToner™ is a simple, portable exercise device that works by strengthening the walls of the pelvic floor through mild resistance training. This tightens the muscles around the neck of the bladder and prevents urine leaking out when you cough, sneeze, laugh or make a sudden movement.
The PelvicToner was developed in the UK and is manufactured in the Southwest.
