New Trust mental health service to support mothers who have suffered the loss of a baby
A new maternal mental health service for women who have experienced the loss of a baby is to be launched by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
The Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service will be open to referrals from Monday, 4 November.
The team will be offering assessment, psychological treatment and specialist midwifery support to women who are experiencing moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties following a perinatal loss within the last two years.
The service will be open to women – initially in the Cambridge and Ely areas before expanding to include Peterborough, Huntingdon and Fenland in 2025 - who have lost a baby during any stage of pregnancy or within the first year of the baby’s life.
Dr Zoe Rawlings, Principal Clinical Psychologist with PTLS (pictured), said: “The loss of a baby is a devastating experience for many families.
“We are very pleased to be expanding our perinatal provision in the area by starting this service which will provide vital support for women in our area.”
Figures from bereavement charity Sands state that currently in the UK, 13 families a day suffer the heartbreak of losing their baby before, during or shortly after birth. That’s around 4,500 babies a year, while at least 15 per cent of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
Women can access the Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service Support via a referral from their GP or health care professional.
Following an initial assessment, those who are eligible can access a range of specialist psychological therapies including for grief and trauma.
Alongside the clinical psychologists working in the team, there are also specialist midwives who can support women who are having or considering having another baby.
Dr Rawlings added: “We have put a lot of thought into how best to support those who will be referred to our service including getting the views of mothers with lived experience of losing a baby.
“We are proud to be opening to referrals and supporting women towards their recovery.”
For more information visit the Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service page of the CPFT website.
CPFT employs more than 4,700 staff who provide community physical healthcare for older people and those with long-term conditions, mental healthcare for adults and young people, eating disorder services in Norfolk, health visiting and school nursing in Peterborough, social care services and learning disability support. The Trust is also renowned for its research work.
