Highly Commended
Seizing The Opportunity To Improve Patient Care: Pelvic Floor Services in 2021 and Beyond
Summary of work
COVID-19 has had an impact on surgeries across the board with most patients facing long delays. However, even before the pandemic, patients with pelvic floor disorders were subjected to significant waiting times for treatment, causing distress and desperation.
Addressing the barriers to pelvic floor surgery was essential to ensure that these conditions were not forgotten in post-pandemic recovery plans. The emphasis on reset and recovery across the whole NHS presented an opportunity to bring together the right partners to influence truly transformational change that would see patients living with pelvic floor disorders finally receive the care they deserve.
A panel of 35 experts and patient group representatives came together to highlight the need for greater focus on pelvic floor disorders and shine a light on examples where change was happening in the NHS to improve access to surgery. Our report created a loud and united call for change in national policy and action at a local level. Endorsed by 12 professional organisations and patient groups, the report and publicity has influenced policy, been a catalyst for change at a local level and rates of pelvic floor surgery have increased by nearly 40%.
Judges’ comments
Many of the judges championed this programme for the strength and volume of partnerships it achieved. It brought together all those with an interest of raising pelvic floor health up the national agenda, and clearly showed how it was working to achieve its aims. As well as demonstrating how it was influencing policy at the centre, it was particularly good to see tangible examples of how the campaign had led to real change in delivery of services up and down the country.
