Government Publishes Renewed Women’s Health Strategy
The renewed Women’s Health Strategy, released on Wednesday this week, shows women’s health is a clear priority for this Government.
Backed by £26 billion, the Strategy puts women’s voices and experiences at the centre of their healthcare, including exploring how funding incentives can be linked to women’s feedback.
It will better join up local services with online support, helping to cut waiting lists and ensure women no longer face years-long delays for diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as endometriosis, which can currently take nearly a decade to diagnose.
Progress is already being made as since June 2024, gynaecology waiting lists have fallen by over 30,000.
Key reforms in the strategy include:
A single referral point to ensure women are directed to the right professional first time
A new standard of care to guarantee appropriate and effective pain relief for invasive gynaecological procedures
NHS Online support to help women manage menstrual and menopausal symptoms
Expansion of community diagnostic centres, offering tests such as blood work and MRIs closer to home and reducing delays between appointments
Redesigned clinical pathways for heavy periods, urogynaecology and menopause to speed up diagnosis and treatment
A specialist centre in every region to support group-based care
£1 million investment to improve menstrual education for girls
A £1.5 million FemTech challenge fund to drive innovation in women’s healthcare
A new Women’s Voices Partnership to ensure women help shape future policy
Improved access to contraception and abortion care, alongside a review of support for families experiencing repeated baby loss
The Government is also funding vital research into unmet women’s health needs, including improving care for severe period pain and developing new technology for threatened miscarriage. Sex and gender considerations will be embedded into research so that no woman is left behind.
You can read the strategy here: