The Government’s future 10-Year Health Plan represents an opportunity to overhaul how women and girls are cared for by the health system through their lives. As the leaders of eleven women’s health organisations, we urge the public and the women’s health workforce to make their voices heard by participating in the national ‘Change NHS’ conversation to shape this.
Despite making up 51% of the UK population, women and girls have repeatedly been left to ‘fall through the gaps’ of fragmented government policy. Women’s health care has been under prioritised and under resourced for too long, meaning that vital opportunities to offer timely and high quality care, and to help women live longer in good health, are being missed.
This is particularly true for Black, Asian and minority ethnic women in the UK, who continue to have worse outcomes and experiences than white women across many aspects of health, including during pregnancy and birth with Black and Asian babies also being more likely to die. Socio-economic inequalities in health have also widened in the last decade and life expectancy is now significantly lower for women living in more deprived areas.
Our organisations can attest to the devastating impact on women and their families. Every day, we hear from women living with life-shattering gynaecology conditions waiting months and years for diagnosis and treatment. We know too many families are not receiving the high-quality maternity care they deserve, including struggling to access vital peri- and post-natal mental health support. Women tell us about the huge impact of being unable to access timely contraception, abortion care and vital health education and information, including how to spot and act on gynaecology cancer symptoms. We also know decreasing cervical screening uptake is risking lives. This cannot continue.
It is clear that dedicated staff in women’s health services are working tirelessly in challenging circumstances, and that there is an urgent need to address workforce wellbeing, training, recruitment and retention issues. The best ideas for change often come from those working on the frontline, and many of the solutions to improving women’s health services and outcomes have already been identified. The ‘Change NHS’ conversation is a chance to lobby for much needed funding and system-wide support for implementation, including for technological and digital innovation essential to transforming women’s health.
NHS Confederation reports that investing an additional £1 per woman in obstetrics and gynaecology services would deliver an additional £319 million for the economy in England. The government’s own figures show that every £1 invested in publically funded contraception saves the public sector £9, making this one of the most cost-effective prevention interventions.
Absenteeism due to severe period pain and heavy periods alongside endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts is estimated to cost £11 billion each year, with unemployment due to menopause symptoms costing approximately £1.5 billion. Untreated maternal mental health problems cost ~£8.1bn each year in the UK, or an average of £190m a year for an average-sized integrated care system.
The case for investing in women’s health is clear - get it right for women and everyone benefits. As such, we urge the public and all those working in women’s health services to speak up. You can find out more information on how to share your views here – ‘Start Here’.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Ranee Thakar, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Kate Lancaster, CEO, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Athena Lamnisos, CEO, The Eve Appeal
Emma Cox, CEO, Endometriosis UK
Judy Ledger, Chief Executive and Founder, Baby Lifeline Ltd
Jane Plumb, MBE FRCOG FRSA, Chief Executive, Group B Strep Support
Justin Irwin, CEO, Maternal Mental Health Alliance UK.
Greta Westwood, CBE PhD RN, CEO, Florence Nightingale Foundation
Gill Walton CBE, CEO & General Secretary, The Royal College of Midwives
Gary Waltham, CEO, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
Shauna Leven, CEO, Twins Trust
Clea Harmer, CEO, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (Sands)