Message from the Chair
Professor Julie Cornish, 5 November 2026
I have been coming to The Pelvic Floor Society meetings for many years and I am proud of the fact that we have grown both in terms of our membership but also in the range of healthcare professionals who are part of the society. We offer a holistic approach whilst aiming for high-quality surgery and training.
Pelvic floor has moved from a Cinderella speciality to one that is formally recognised nationally and internationally but we still have challenges ahead. Whilst the demand for our services is growing the capacity is not keeping pace. Work from TPFS executive has demonstrated that nationally we have a reduction in the numbers of surgical procedures being performed for prolapse and incontinence, with trainees having less exposure and experience. Waiting lists are longer than ever and it feels like benign conditions are constantly being pushed to the back of the queue.
The challenges are clear but now is the time to act. The launch of the POPSUI NHS England database requires MDTs to be recognised or developed around the UK so that all prolapse and incontinence surgical procedures are discussed and recorded.
As a society we have set up the Task Force for education and training to ensure that organisational curriculums are up to date and relevant, that we have the breadth and quality of training courses to provide HCPs of the future and that we can put in place mentorship and fellowships to support students and existing clinicians to provide the best possible service.
We will be coming to your region in the next two years – look out for the meeting dates and get involved. If you have issues or questions please contact me or the exec as we need to understand the national picture.