Responding to NHS England figures showing more than 57,000 new and expectant mums received specialist support for mental health problems over the last year, Saffron Cordrey, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers said:

"Trusts have been working hard to provide mental health support for expectant and new mums.

"Early intervention is crucial. If left untreated, mental ill health can have long-lasting impacts on individuals and their loved ones.

"Worryingly, there are still significant levels of unmet need. One in five of the 600,000 women giving birth in England every year are affected by mental illness.

"We need sustained investment in perinatal mental health services to close this gap, and for this to be coordinated with the approach to broader, core prevention and early intervention services – particularly community mental health, public health and social care services – to best support new mothers and their families.

"The government needs to fully fund the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to help ensure these and wider mental health services are adequately staffed.

"National focus on addressing the wider determinants of health, including the stark disparities faced by women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, is critical.

"Trusts also need support to meet the needs of local communities given the significant health and race inequalities in maternity and mental health services."