New Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (M-TLC) launches in North West London

A new service has launched to help women who are experiencing psychological difficulties following:

• Pregnancy loss
• Still birth and neonatal loss
• Birth trauma and women who have a fear of childbirth (tokophobia).

The service offers women psychological support through a combination of psychological therapy, specialist midwifery input and peer support. There's a particular focus on women whose early life experiences make them more vulnerable to trauma.

How to access the service

For non-pregnant women (women who have experienced pregnancy loss, still birth or a neonatal loss or birth trauma), the M-TLC pilot service will accept all eligible referrals in the North West London area.

For pregnant women, the service will initially be available only to those receiving care at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital maternity units. The service will then be extended out over a phased three-month period to incorporate all North West London maternity units in the following order by the end of 2021:

• Northwick Park Hospital
• Queens Charlottes Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital
• Hillingdon Hospital

Visit the new service page online for the referral criteria and professional and self-referral forms.

The Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service is jointly led by CNWL and West London NHS Trust (WLT) and in partnership with the NW London Local Maternity System (LMS). The M-TLC will help around 350 women each year access specialist support.