Concerns are mounting as new analysis reveals a significant increase in the waiting times for mental health care among new or expectant mothers in England. Shockingly, one woman had to endure a staggering 319-day wait for her initial appointment, drawing attention to a critical issue in the healthcare system.
According to data from NHS England, more than 30,000 pregnant or recently postpartum women are currently on waiting lists for mental health support. The Labour Party, after analyzing this data, has raised the alarm, stating that many of these women are being forced to “suffer in silence.”
Amid a growing demand for perinatal mental health services, the period from August 2022 to March 2023 witnessed a 40% increase in the number of women waiting for care. Over the same timeframe, the number of women who accessed support also rose, albeit by a modest 8%.
Labour submitted a freedom of information request to NHS England seeking information on the longest waiting times in the past five years. Shockingly, one woman’s experience stood out with a 319-day gap between referral and her first contact with mental health services.
This research follows recent warnings from organizations like the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). These groups have expressed concerns not only about resource shortages but also the need for long-term funding, adequate staffing levels, and the glaring disparity in mental health care within pregnancy.
Perinatal mental health problems can become particularly acute among expectant and new mothers. NHS statistics indicate that over a quarter of these women are affected by perinatal mental illness.
A study led by Oxford University and published last year found that suicide was the most common direct cause of death for women up to one year after pregnancy in the UK and Ireland between 2018 and 2022. Alarmingly, 40% of all deaths were linked to mental health issues.
Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Rosena Allin-Khan, expressed her concerns about the government’s approach, saying, “After over a decade of government neglect, mental health services are on their knees, and the government appears entirely unwilling to tackle the crisis.”
Karen Middleton, Head of Policy at MMHA, noted that the increase in demand was sadly unsurprising. She emphasized the need for funding to reach specialized maternal mental health care teams to ensure that women receive the life-saving care they require.
Middleton also highlighted the importance of publicly available local data to understand the true extent of the disparities new and expectant mothers face when trying to access mental health care.
The Royal College of Midwives recently called for the recruitment of 350 additional specialist perinatal mental health midwives, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue. Sally Ashton-May, Head of Policy for the RCM, pointed out that the shortage of midwifery staff often forces specialists to fill gaps in regular care, underscoring the lack of parity between physical and mental health aspects of pregnancy care.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the expansion of services as part of the NHS England long-term plan. They stated that by 2024, “at least 66,000 women with moderate to severe perinatal mental health difficulties will have access to specialist community care, up to 24 months after the birth of their babies.” Additionally, they mentioned the opening of four new mother and baby units in 2019, aiming to ensure that the most seriously ill women can receive residential care without separation from their infants in every part of England.
