Government to ‘renew’ women’s health strategy

The government is set to publish a ‘renewed’ women’s health strategy to help tackle inequalities and improve access to healthcare for women across England.

An updated strategy will be published next year and will look to identify ‘specific barriers’ to healthcare access and ‘set out concrete action to remove them’, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said.

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The previous Conservative government had published a women’s health strategy in 2022 – setting out ambitions for ‘boosted health outcomes’ for all women and girls and the need to improve the way in which the health and care system ‘engages and listens’ to women.

Today, the DHSC said a ‘renewed strategy’ would set out how the government will take the next steps to improve women’s healthcare as part of its 10 Year Health Plan and ‘create a system that listens to women’s experiences and tackles the inequalities they face’.

Opinions from women who contributed to the government’s consultation on the 10-year plan will ‘play a central role’ in developing the refreshed women’s health strategy.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘We inherited a broken NHS, and as a result too many women are still subject to system that doesn’t listen to their experiences or understand their needs.

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‘Whether it’s being passed from one specialist to another for conditions like endometriosis or PCOS, the lack of proper pain relief during procedures, or unacceptable gynaecology waiting lists – it’s clear the system is failing women, and it shouldn’t be happening.

‘Our renewed strategy will set out our longer-term vision, so every woman gets the healthcare she deserves, when she needs it. We’re determined to build an NHS in which women can feel safe and can trust.’

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The move follows news today that dedicated questions and support related to the menopause are to be included within routine NHS health checks for women aged over 40 across England.

The government said the initiative would benefit nearly five million women and marked a ‘landmark step forward’ in women’s healthcare.