NHS pelvic floor therapy - how to get referral?

[siob96]

Hey! Just looking for a bit of advice about how to get a referral for NHS pelvic floor therapy for anyone who has gotten one. Do you need to be referred by a gynaecologist or can you be referred by your GP?

For context, I had my first lap in November and still struggling with some symptoms (mainly pelvic pain and bloating), which I think could be helped my pelvic floor therapy as I believe I have a tight pelvic floor from always tending up from pain (and I have anxiety which doesn’t help matters!). I have a post op appointment but that isn’t until June, so hoping I can get a referral from my GP. I imagine it has long wait times like most things, so hoping to get referred as speedily as possible rather than having to wait for my post op in June and get referred then.

[Palomino13]

Hey Siob,

I got pelvic floor dysfunction after chronic pelvic spasms for 7 weeks straight from endometriosis. My pelvic floor muscles became totally locked, which lead to chronic bladder symptoms and pain.

I had one from urology and Gynacology. GP could not refer me. The waiting list is so long (9 months plus), I think they may only refer you if it’s severe.

Honestly if you have no bladder issues you can do the excerises yourself, they are very basic. You do them morning to begin with then twice a day. There are loads of videos on line and you can buy a pelvic wand which will helps. A pelvic floor physiotherapy is a (£80) session, so not too bad if you want an assessment to see.

Good luck ⭐️

[Whoosh451]

Hiya, I’m in the same boat, had a referral from gynae for pelvic floor physio and not heard a peep since- it’s been about 3 months. I think the waiting list is just really long x

[Seetheworld]

You can absolutely ask your GP for a referral, it is quite slow and seems to be faster if referred from your consultant to a physiotherapist based in the hospital rather than your local health centre (in my experience). I was referred for pelvic floor therapy for my pain after my laparoscopy whilst I was still in the hospital and I got seen by my pelvic physiotherapist 1 and a half months later.Unfortunately this in the hospital where I had my operation, which is very far from my house, so I requested my GP to refer me to one closer. I was referred a couple of months ago and had my first telephone appointment last week, but I was told the next available face to face appointment is not until end of May.

You can ask to be referred to any NHS clinic, so maybe worth asking to be referred to somewhere other than your local health centre if the wait time is shorter.