London midwife who started ‘ground-breaking’ training for colleagues wins coveted RCM award

A midwife from London who was part of a team which organised ground-breaking training for colleagues to help women who have given birth undertake physiotherapy has won a national award from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

Rachel Mangudu, who works as midwife in the Perinatal Pelvic Health Service at South East London Local Maternity & Neonatal System, was presented with the Partnership & Team Working award at RCMs annual awards in London on 19 May.

She set up the pilot service with three other colleagues in 2020. Since then the service has trained over 1300 health care professionals to give physiotherapy to help women recover from pelvic floor injuries, or incontinence which can occur after the birth of a child.

The work is incredibly important for women. It is estimated that one in three women will experience urinary incontinence after childbirth with many more experiencing some form pelvic pain up to a year after childbirth. Aside from the medical implications it can leave women feeling embarrassed and ashamed.

Commenting on her win Rachel said: “What makes this project special is the midwifery and physiotherapy partnership. Looking for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period with pelvic problems – this is something that has never been done. And the fact that we work across trusts in South East London too, it makes it even more impactful.”

The service has been an outstanding success, treating over 200 women and offering advice to them and their families on how to manage symptoms going forward. A recent survey of the pilot found that almost 90% of the women felt more confident after the classes and nearly all of them were motivated to begin exercises after the class.

“The classes set up by Rachel and her team are ground-breaking,” says the RCM’s Chief Executive, Gill Walton. “These services are much needed and it’s clear that the driving force behind their success has been Rachel and the midwives that lead the service. It’s clear that teamwork has been instrumental to the success of the pilot. Rachel has worked with her colleagues including physios and nurses to deliver outstanding care to over 200 mothers. Not only that she has trained over 1300 of their colleagues so that they can carry the baton and embedded the practice across the maternity wards they work in. Huge congratulation to Rachel and her team.”

Commenting on Rachels’ win Angela Helleur, Chief Nursing Officer with the South East London Integrated Care Board, said: “We are enormously proud of Rachel and her midwifery colleagues in the pelvic health team for achieving this national recognition. Working with other clinical colleagues, they have transformed the support and advice for women affected by debilitating symptoms that are still too often the subject of stigma. This award is richly deserved and comes after it was confirmed that the service, which started out as a pilot, has been commissioned for women across South East London.”

The award was sponsored by WaterWipes who added “It gives WaterWipes great pleasure to congratulate Rachel Mangudu and the Perinatal Pelvic Health Service at South East London Local Maternity & Neonatal System. The team there  has shown such commitment to ensuring that high quality pelvic health care is available to all women and birthing people in the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period across South London – congratulations to all the Pelvic Health team on a job extremely well done! WaterWipes are delighted to support this award and acknowledge the immense support Rachel and the Pelvic Health team have provided.”

Source: Royal College of Midwives

Staff Writer