getUBetter Secures SBRI Centre of Excellence Funding to Scale Women’s Pelvic Health in Wales

Bristol, UK – 27 October 2025 – getUBetter has been awarded SBRI Healthcare funding to deploy and evaluate its innovative women’s pelvic and perinatal pelvic health self-management support platform across Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in NHS Wales.

To be delivered in partnership with Cwm Taf Women’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapy service and academic partners, the project titled Scaling Innovative Pelvic Health Support for Women and Girls in Wales – getUBetter and Cwn Taf Margannwg meets the competition scope by deploying a proven, safe, and evidence-based digital innovation that:

• Improves awareness, communication, and access to women’s pelvic health support in Wales
• Delivers a 4-in-1 integrated solution aligned to Welsh priorities
• Demonstrates measurable benefits for women, the NHS, and the wider economy
• Supports the ambitions of A Healthier Wales and the Women’s Health Plan by embedding prevention, empowerment, equity, and digital transformation at scale

Women’s pelvic health in Wales: Tackling an often overlooked but widespread issue

Pelvic health problems are highly prevalent yet often hidden. One in three women experience pelvic floor disorders in their lifetime, with over 60% reporting symptoms. These symptoms, including incontinence, pain, prolapse, and sexual dysfunction, have profound impact on wellbeing, family life, and economic participation. More than 80% of women say symptoms affect their ability to work or provide care.

Despite this, pelvic health issues are frequently stigmatised or normalised, meaning many women do not seek help. Those who do, often face long waits for specialist physiotherapy or urogynaecology – sometimes as long as 20 weeks – during which symptom may worsen. The Women’s Health Plan for Wales recognises pelvic health and incontinence as key priorities for urgent improvement.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg is a particularly important setting for this project, with a diverse and often disadvantaged population and pronounced health inequalities. A locally tailored, scalable, and digitally enabled approach is needed to overcome barriers such as stigma, access, language, and geography.

A 4-in-1 digital solution for women’s pelvic health in Wales

The getUBetter platform replaces fragmented support tools, like standalone apps or leaflets, with a single, integrated digital pathway available across the health board. It will provide women in Cwm Taf with:

• Trusted digital self-management support of women’s pelvic health across services and waiting lists
• Whole-pathway support, including in-app triage, safety-netting, and automated referrals to local NHS services and treatments available, such as physiotherapy, urogynaecology, maternity, and Women’s Health Hubs
• In-app pelvic floor trainer and exercise, helping women build confidence and long-lasting habits without the need for third-party tools
• A Women’s Health Hub, connecting users to local support across menstruation, menopause, contraception, mental health, domestic violence, and more

This integrated model will help transform access to women’s pelvic health support in Wales, turning waiting time into active recovery.

Proven success and measurable impact

The getUBetter platform is already live across 20 Integrated Care Systems in England, covering 20 million people. getUBetter has already demonstrated real impact, including:

• 80% reduction in women’s health physiotherapy waiting times (from 29 weeks to just 4 weeks)
• 88% reduction in follow up physiotherapy appointments
• Return on investment of £1:9.

Dr. Carey McClellan, CEO of getUBetter, said: “We’re proud to be bringing our innovation to Wales. Too many women and girls are left waiting for help with conditions that affect every aspect of their lives with little to no support. By turning waiting time into active recovery, this project will reduce stigma, improve access, and create a scalable model for NHS Wales.

This collaboration is vital because effective self-management depends on understanding the needs and behaviours of citizens, patients, and clinicians within Wales. We cannot assume what works in England will automatically work here. This exciting project will enable us to transform pelvic health self-management across NHS Wales and deliver real value for all stakeholders.”

Supporting national priorities for women’s pelvic health in Wales

This initiative directly aligns with the Women’s Health Plan for Wales and the A Healthier Wales strategy by embedding prevention, self-management support across all stages of life, empowerment, and equity into women’s healthcare.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will lead the project, configuring the platform to its   Core Women’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapy pathways, alongside the existing primary care GP musculoskeletal service. The project will be evaluated with academic and health economics partners, creating a strong evidence base for national scale rollout across NHS Wales.

“We aim to empower women to take control of their wellbeing and pelvic health at every key life stage — including pregnancy, postnatal, and menopause,” said Catrin Evans, Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

“The women’s health resource within the getUBetter app will help reduce pressure on our service, allowing us to deliver timely one-to-one treatment to those who need it most. For many women with busy lives, having access to trusted information and guidance in a digital self-management app — available when and where it suits them — can be the difference between getting help and going without. As the first service in Wales to offer this app, we’re proud to be evolving how we provide choice and care for women.”