New Women's Health Strategy Launched Amid Concerns Women Still Unheard
A revised women's health strategy for England has been unveiled by the government, aiming to address persistent concerns that women's healthcare needs are often overlooked. This update follows a 2022 Conservative government initiative which pledged to 'radically improve' engagement with women and girls and enhance health outcomes.
Patient Experiences Highlight Ongoing Issues
The urgency for this refreshed approach is underscored by the experiences of women such as Zoe Trafford. Ms Trafford, who has suffered from endometriosis since her teenage years, recounted years of doctors dismissing her severe pain as 'just bad periods'. Despite undergoing significant surgery, including a hysterectomy and partial bowel removal, Ms Trafford feels her ongoing complications are not being adequately addressed. 'I'm not being listened to. Basically, I've had the surgery but I'm having more and more complications,' she stated, having had to cease her hairdressing career due to the debilitating pain.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the systemic failings, stating that some women have been made to feel like 'second-class citizens', with their pain treated 'as an inconvenience and their symptoms as an overreaction'. This sentiment is reinforced by a substantial increase in gynaecological waiting lists in England, which have doubled since February 2020, now exceeding 565,000.
New Measures and Expert Reactions
Among the new measures is a 'patient power payment' scheme, initially trialled in gynaecology. This will allow women to provide feedback, with funding allocated to areas needing improvement and potential financial penalties for providers receiving negative feedback. Additionally, a streamlined referral process and a new standard of care for pain relief during invasive gynaecological procedures are planned.
While Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, welcomed the strategy, she stressed that the 'picture for women remains deeply concerning' given the substantial waiting lists. She advocated for integrating Women's Health Hubs into the neighbourhood health model. However, the Royal Osteoporosis Society criticised the strategy for lacking a national plan for specialist osteoporosis services, a condition affecting half of women over 50.
Emma Cox, Chief Executive of Endometriosis UK, highlighted the 'totally unacceptable' diagnosis times of over nine years for endometriosis, emphasising the need for 'a clear roadmap for delivery, including ensuring the necessary resources and capacity'. Similar women's health plans are also being developed or implemented in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
