Renewed Women's Health strategy essential for equity and improved care for women

The government has announced plans to renew the Women’s Health Strategy, aiming to improve healthcare access and address longstanding inequalities for women across England.

Key initiatives include the inclusion of menopause questions in the NHS Health Check and a commitment to reduce gynaecology waiting lists. The strategy will also focus on tackling barriers to care for conditions like endometriosis and PCOS, guided by feedback from the 10 Year Health Plan consultation.

Responding to the announcement, Samantha Allen, chair of the Health and Care Women Leaders Network, said:

“We welcome the announcement to renew the Women's Health Strategy. A strategy backed up with a clear delivery plan is crucial for addressing the longstanding inequalities in women's healthcare and ensuring that their voices are heard within the NHS.

"By tackling barriers to access and improving care for health conditions, we can create a healthcare system that truly understands and meets the needs of women. This renewed focus represents a vital step towards a more equitable and compassionate approach to healthcare and we are eager to support its implementation for the benefit of women across the country. We also encourage specific emphasis on the 78% of the NHS workforce and 82% of the social care workforce who are women. Improving the health of our care givers will have a direct impact on patients and the NHS sustainability and productivity."