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The Trust is playing a key role in the launch of new a NHS Maternal Mental Health Service from April 2021.

ELFT is a partner in projects to provide support for women who are going through, or have gone through pregnancy, by providing joined-up care in north east London and in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. 

This much-needed service will support women with experience of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following birth trauma, following perinatal loss (including early miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, termination of pregnancy for any reason, parent infant separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns), and severe fear of childbirth (tokophobia). 

Ultimately, these new services will integrate maternity, reproductive health and psychological therapy for women experiencing mental health difficulties directly arising from, or related to, the maternity experience, in all areas of England by 2023/24. 

“Collaboration with health and social care colleagues – and talking to the mums who this service will support – are fundamental in helping shape this vital piece of work,” said Justine Cawley, Trust-wide Lead for Perinatal Mental Health. 

“Our absolute priority is to provide care that reflects the needs of service users and that better connects parts of the NHS to deliver an approach that feels joined-up to the people we care for and to health and social care professionals.” 

North East London Integrated Care System (ICS) Maternal Mental Health Service
The ICS bid has involved substantial patient engagement and co-production, working with local mums to work out the best approach, as well as a joined-up approach by ELFT with NELFT – the other  ICS mental health provider, three acute providers (Barts Health, BHRUT and Homerton University Hospital Trust), voluntary and community organisations and commissioners.

NEL will receive £960,442.09 for 21/22 to deliver the service. It covers all seven Clinical Commissioning Groups and will involve additional investment in local NHS and voluntary organisations. The co-production process started at the bid writing stage, with engagement and co-production work continuing throughout as NHS partners work with local mums to work out the best approach.

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICS Maternal Mental Health Service
The ICS bid involved a joined-up approach by ELFT and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), who both provide mental health services across the area, working in partnership with voluntary and community organisations, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, maternity services and health visitors. This resulted in substantial patient engagement and co-production, working with local mums to work out the best approach.