Women in our community and across the country deserve a health service that listens, respects, and delivers. For too long, that has not always been the reality. I regularly hear deeply troubling accounts from women who felt dismissed, unheard, or left waiting far too long for diagnosis and treatment. More than eight in 10 say there have been times when healthcare professionals did not listen to them. These experiences point to a wider problem: a system that has too often failed to take women’s health concerns seriously.
The renewed Women’s Health Strategy recently announced by the Government is an important step toward changing that. It recognises a hard truth, despite the founding principles of equality within the NHS, women face persistent inequalities in care and outcomes. Those inequalities are even sharper for women from deprived backgrounds or minority communities.
This strategy puts women’s voices at the centre of healthcare. That means ensuring concerns are listened to the first time, improving accountability, and exploring new ways for patient feedback to directly shape services. It also means tackling long-standing issues such as inadequate pain relief during procedures and delays in diagnosing conditions like endometriosis, which can currently take years.
There has already been meaningful progress. Since coming into office, the Government has delivered over 5 million extra NHS appointments and reduced gynaecology waiting lists by more than 30,000. Emergency hormonal contraception is now available free of charge at pharmacies, and menopause support is being integrated into routine health checks. Updated clinical guidance is helping speed up diagnosis and treatment for conditions like endometriosis.
Investment in maternity care is also making a difference, with funding to improve neonatal facilities, programmes to reduce avoidable brain injuries during labour, and expanded maternal mental health services. Initiatives like Martha’s Rule are empowering patients and families to seek second opinions when it matters most.
But there is more to do. The strategy sets out plans to redesign care pathways, expand community-based services, and improve education around menstrual health. It also commits to strengthening research so that women are properly represented in clinical studies and new treatments.
At its heart, this is about culture change. One instance of a woman feeling ignored or dismissed is one too many. Our goal must be an NHS where every woman, at every stage of her life, is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.
Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewed-womens-health-strategy-for-england