Gloucestershire is one of only 20 areas across the country to be successful in being awarded national funding which will be used to improve specialist community mental health support for women, their babies and families around the time of birth.

The funding will be released over the next three years and will be used to set up a new community mental health team which specialises in supporting pregnant women, new mothers, their babies and families experiencing complex mental health issues and other emotional difficulties.

The team will help ensure that women have access to expert advice and information on the impact pregnancy and childbirth can have on their mental health during their current or future pregnancy.

The CCG is working with pregnant women and new mothers, and partners including 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to take plans forward.

This development supports a number of key themes within Gloucestershire’s Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), including improving mental health support, placing greater emphasis on preventing ill health, helping people to be healthy and well at home and enhancing community based services and support.