By Your Side service expands to support patients in west Essex

A maternal mental health service provided by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has expanded to support more people across Essex.

By Your Side, provided in collaboration with midwifery colleagues, offers therapeutic care and grief therapy for women and birthing parents who have experienced a perinatal loss.

The service launched across south west Essex during Baby Loss Awareness Week last October. It expanded in January to support patients registered with GPs in south east Essex, and now also supports those with a GP in west Essex. Find more information on GP locations on the EPUT website.

By Your Side is the first specialist psychological and therapeutic service for perinatal loss in Essex. It supports women who have experienced a miscarriage at any stage of their pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death or planned termination, and have been significantly affected by the loss.

By Your Side can currently support patients aged 18 and over living in south west, south east and west Essex. It is hoped the service will become countywide by June this year.

The service offers a mix of video consultations, telephone appointments, face-to-face assessments and treatment in perinatal hubs and home visits based on the patient’s needs.

Members of the public who feel they would benefit from a referral should speak to their midwife, GP, health visitor, social worker, mental health service or support charity.

To find out more about the service and other support available for family members and loved ones, please visit eput.nhs.uk/byyourside