A NEW mental health service is being setup for new and expectant mums in Herefordshire thanks to a £350,000 funding boost.

The NHS England funding will go to Herefordshire and Worcestershire sustainability and transformation partnership and will improve mental health services across the two counties.

Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child and affect up to 20% of women.

These cover a wide range of conditions and if left untreated can have significant and long-lasting effects on the woman and her family.

They can also have long-standing effects on children’s emotional, social and cognitive development.

The funding will mean there will be greater access to psychological therapies and interventions, specialist perinatal occupational therapists and community nursery nurses to offer work related to maternal bonding across the two counties.

This will enhance the existing service in Worcestershire and start-up a new service in Herefordshire, making the care across both counties available in the right place and the right time, providing advice to maternity, mental health and community services.

Dr Barnaby Major, consultant psychiatrist and clinical director for 2gether NHS Foundation Trust in Herefordshire, said: “Improving support for pregnant women, new mothers and their partners is a key priority.

“We know that perinatal mental health issues have a huge impact on mothers, their babies and their wider families and networks. The impact is felt not only in the perinatal period, but for years to come.

“This investment is a significant step towards improving equal access to specialist mental health care and will improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Herefordshire.”

Dr Ian Tait, chairman and clinical lead for NHS Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Providing the right care in the right place and at the right time is the priority of everyone in the NHS.

“The targeted funding means we can do exactly that, putting the support which new and expecting mums need, where they can access it, when they need it.

“This is also a great example of how organisations are coming together across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire to benefit people across both counties.”

For more information about our current Perinatal service visit: http://www.hacw.nhs.uk/our-services/perinatal-psychiatry/