“Women are in floods of tears when they’ve finally opened up about their pelvic health because they’ve suffered this life-changing issue in silence – often for years.”
Ruth Hopper is determined to challenge the stigma around this important area of healthcare that can significantly impact women’s lives physically and mentally, break up relationships and prompt huge career changes.
She is proud to have taken on the role of Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist, becoming the Clinical Lead for the Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS) across the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS).
The service is hosted by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Pelvic health is focused on the management of the bladder, bowel and reproductive organs and plays an important role in physical, mental, social, and sexual wellbeing. During pregnancy, and after birth, problems can occur with pelvic health and these may include bladder urgency and frequency, bladder or bowel incontinence, prolapses, third or fourth-degree tears and pelvic pain.
Problems can also follow gynaecological surgery or trauma.
Ruth is determined to raise awareness, encourage staff across the NHS – including Midwives, Nurses, GPs and Allied Health Professionals – to strike up discussions and emphasise the preventative measures that can be taken such as daily pelvic floor exercises.
“The strongest message I can give to anyone affected is don’t suffer in silence because there is help available but equally as important is working together to try to avoid issues before they start,” she said.
“Prevention is my key aim which is why I want to ensure healthcare professionals who come into regular, daily contact with women are bringing the topic up and helping to remove the stigma. Women are often in floods of tears when they’ve finally opened up about their pelvic health because they’ve suffered this life-changing issue in silence – often for years. It can break up relationships, cause them to abandon much-loved careers because of the practicalities of dealing with incontinence and severely impact their mental health.”
Ruth, who started her role last September and is soon to be joined by a Pelvic Health Specialist Midwife, decided to focus on education and prevention rather than simply offer a clinic. She formerly worked within the Dudley Adult Bladder and Bowel Service (DABBS) and is passionate about making a difference.
“I know that a clinic would have a queue of women round the block, but this isn’t the most sustainable way to offer support to the thousands who need it. I think a far better approach is to equip as many healthcare colleagues as possible with the knowledge they need so we can collectively offer support. And I’m working with the ICB to house resources and information on a web page for easy access.
“This is a system-wide approach across the Black Country LMNS, and we know there are thousands who could benefit. I feel so passionately about improving pelvic health having seen the devastating effect it can have on women and their families.”