NHS study identifies ‘urgently needed’ solution to gynaecology waitlist woes

A digital health platform could be an effective, accessible and scalable solution to address the current pelvic health care crisis, an independent NHS study has found.

With nearly 600,000 people in England currently on a gynaecology hospital care waitlist, solutions are needed urgently to address this growing women’s health crisis.

Patients on this list are often seeking care for pelvic health-related conditions such as prolapse or incontinence, many with symptoms resulting from childbirth.

Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex has independently commissioned evaluation partners, Unity Insights, to explore the benefits of a digital pelvic health platform to address these “unmet” needs.

Following an extensive market review, the Health Innovation Network selected MUTU System, an online programme that provides pelvic floor muscle training and learning materials aimed at helping women improve pelvic health symptoms.

The evaluation concluded the platform is a “ready-to-go solution” that can improve the current NHS pelvic healthcare pathway.

Jenny Partridge, innovation manager at Health Innovation KSS, said: “Many women do not seek medical help for postpartum issues due to embarrassment, cultural barriers, or lack of time juggling childcare and other commitments.

“MUTU System used in the privacy of your home can make a big difference. It’s our hope that increasing access in this way will have a significant impact on addressing maternal inequality in our region.”

Through surveys conducted among postpartum patients attending specialist physiotherapy or GP appointments, alongside a self-pay cohort, MUTU System, Partridge said, delivered statistically significant improvements in pelvic health symptoms.

There was a marked reduction in pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary incontinence (UI), and dyspareunia (painful sex) among patients.

Additionally, one hundred per cent of NHS GP practice patients reported increased confidence in doing their pelvic floor exercises correctly.

MUTU System was popular with patients too, with 91 per cent of NHS physiotherapy patients and 66 per cent of NHS GP practice patients reporting they would recommend it.

Sarah Leng, transformation and digital lead at Medway South PCN, one of the GP practices participating in the study, said: “GPs saw the benefit of offering MUTU System to patients to help address pelvic health symptoms, in particular the opportunity of early intervention to prevent symptoms getting worse and impacting on day-to-day life.”

Wendy Powell, CEO of MUTU System, added: “I’m delighted to see that GPs, physiotherapists and patients see the benefits of our programme.

“We want as many women as possible to experience reduced symptoms post-birth, so we hope this study will lead to extensive implementation across the NHS.”