NHS Kent and Medway agrees contract with MUTU to help postpartum mums recover after childbirth

MUTU®, the evidence-based digital postnatal recovery platform, has secured its first NHS contract. The programme will be implemented in Medway Women’s Health Hub with funding from the Kent and Medway Women’s Health budget, allowing postpartum mums in the region to access proven support.

The contract follows the successful independent evaluation by Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (Health Innovation KSS) and their evaluation partner, Unity Insights, which demonstrated MUTU’s effectiveness in addressing postpartum issues and the solution’s potential to be cost-effective. The evaluation provided the necessary evidence to support NHS adoption, setting a precedent for other healthcare regions.

Dr MaryAnn Ferreux, Chief Medical Officer at Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) said:

“We are thrilled that Medway Women’s Health Hub Valley has taken this forward-thinking step in postnatal care. This partnership proves that innovative, effective digital solutions can be implemented within the NHS. We hope this contract will inspire other primary care organisations and NHS trusts to follow suit, ensuring more women receive the support they need.”

Addressing unmet needs in postnatal care

Women experiencing pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary incontinence (UI), and other postpartum symptoms often face long waitlists for specialist care or feel hesitant to seek help due to stigma, cultural barriers, or lack of access. MUTU® System provides a digital-first, clinically validated solution, enabling women to receive essential care from the privacy of their homes.

Dr Sati Lall, Medway and Swale Women’s Health Hub clinical lead and GP Partner, Reach Healthcare said: “Healthcare inequities continue to affect women’s access to essential services, particularly in pelvic health. That’s why we’re delighted to announce our investment in MUTU – a transformative step in making expert pelvic health support accessible to all women in our community. This innovation complements our existing care pathway and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to put women’s health first.”

The Medway Valley PCN Digital Transformation Lead has ensured GP practices can offer MUTU’s programme to patients who have given birth in the last 12 months, in particular those who cannot access face-to-face specialist physiotherapist support.

Leading the future of women’s digital health in the NHS

MUTU’s integration into NHS services demonstrates how digital health solutions can seamlessly complement existing care pathways. To improve long-term outcomes for postpartum women, MUTU provides a comprehensive, evidence-based programme that includes education, movement guidance, and ongoing community support.

This approach is fully aligned with the three major shifts advocated by the Health Minister: moving care from hospitals to the community, embracing digital transformation, and shifting from treatment to prevention.

With pelvic health conditions affecting one-third of women post-birth, the Medway project serves as a call to action for other NHS regions to integrate proven digital solutions and enhance postnatal care nationwide.

Nuala Foley, Associate Director Commercial and Enterprise, Health Innovation KSS said:

“Health Innovation KSS has worked with MUTU for four years since their place on the National Innovation Accelerator (NIA). From the outset, we saw the value MUTU could bring to our population and the importance of supporting NHS adoption to ensure wider access.

Securing adoption as a paid service has been challenging due to limited budgets and a lack of focus on women’s health. I greatly admire MUTU’s persistence in refining its value proposition and forging ahead.

I am delighted to see this partnership come to fruition and hope it’s the beginning of making MUTU accessible to all who need it.”

The evaluation findings are available here: Evaluation of MUTU® System – Unity Insights