Elvie leads calls for UK Government to step up funding and support for pelvic health
70 members of the women's health industry signed open letter to ask MPs to do more
The UK Government’s own estimates show that just £18 per woman is set aside to improve support for pelvic health - that’s despite data showing 1 in 3 women experience urinary incontinence three months after pregnancy.
Now women’s health start-up Elvie has brought together 70 members of the women’s health industry in an open letter to to ask MPs to do more.
The letter calls for the government to:
increase funding
speed up frontline service delivery and provide extra training
offer prescriptions for pelvic floor training and physio for everyone that gives birth.
Elvie takes to ‘Leaker’s Corner’
Last week, Elvie's founder and CEO, Tania Boler, driven by her frustration over the inadequate support for pelvic floor health, led a protest at London’s Speakers’ Corner, turning it into ‘Leakers’ Corner for the day. Eleven years ago, she created smart pelvic health technology Elvie Trainer which revolutionised pelvic floor care for women.
Tania said:
“Poor pelvic health has a serious impact on quality of life, often leading to bladder weakness, reduced sexual pleasure or even prolapse. The funding promised by the Government may sound significant but it amounts to just £18 per woman giving birth in the UK each year.”
Why more action is needed on pelvic health
Elvie aimed to spotlight the UK’s maternal pelvic floor health crisis - following research which found that 55% of UK women received no advice about their pelvic health following childbirth. A survey by Elvie found that 63% of mothers did not discuss their pelvic health with anyone—friends, family, or professionals—during pregnancy or after childbirth
In addition, a total of 73% of healthcare workers believing that the Government’s measures won’t be enough to tackle the maternal pelvic health crisis.