TY - JOUR T1 - Postnatal contraception provision in an inpatient perinatal mental health unit JF - BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health JO - BMJ Sex Reprod Health DO - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2022-201578 SP - bmjsrh-2022-201578 AU - Gabriella Bathgate AU - Chelsea Sharp AU - Emma Yates AU - Pauline Curnock AU - Olivia Protti AU - Sue Mann Y1 - 2022/07/19 UR - http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2022/07/19/bmjsrh-2022-201578.abstract N2 - Key messagesA sexual health outreach programme focused on postnatal contraception education and provision was introduced on the East London Mother & Baby Unit.The programme offers a time-intensive but well-organised, equitable, accessible service delivered by experienced sexual health clinicians to women with previously limited direct access to postnatal contraception.The programme’s success illustrates the relevance of proactive local service development to meet unmet clinical need.Increasing postnatal contraception (PNC) uptake supports effective interpregnancy spacing, prevents unplanned repeat pregnancy following childbirth, improves subsequent obstetric outcomes and is a topical service development focus in sexual and reproductive healthcare.1 Provision offers high return on investment in postnatal women as well as the general population.2 3Recent years have seen substantial progress in increasing PNC provision through coordinated programmes in the UK, particularly via maternity services.4–7 However, across the UK there is a long way to go to realising universal direct, convenient access to the full range of contraceptive methods for PNC, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) for eligible women desiring these methods.8 Improving access for women poorly served through mainstream sexual health, maternity and primary care services remains a particular priority. A key group for whom unintended pregnancy may pose significant obstetric and psychosocial risk are women with chronic psychiatric illness or previous serious perinatal mental illness.9 10Here we report on an initiative designed to offer direct PNC to women admitted to a Mother & Baby Unit (MBU). While similar initiatives run elsewhere, reporting on their setup, outcomes and patient and staff experiences of their delivery has been limited.Our service based at Homerton Hospital is one of two integrated sexual health service providers serving inner city East London, and incorporates an active outreach arm.Co-located with the service’s main clinic is the City & Hackney Centre for … ER -