The Government today responded to the recommendations set out in the Women and Equalities Committee Women’s reproductive health conditions’ report, published in December 2024. The report found that despite high prevalence across the UK, access to services to receive timely treatment and diagnosis is limited and women are waiting in poor health for too long.
Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said,
“The UK government was elected on a manifesto promise of prioritising women’s health, and their acceptance of many important recommendations in the Women and Equalities Committee report is a step towards meeting this commitment.
“The report identified the vital importance of Women’s Health Hubs as a solution to improve women’s experience of care across the life-course. The College calls for continued support for hubs to ensure that they are prioritised in the face of difficult fiscal trade-offs between services.
'We have welcomed the Government's commitment to cut waiting lists and support the mention in this response of offering gynaecology patients care closer to home and piloting pathways in community diagnostic centres. These plans must be given adequate resource and funding in the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan and Spending Review.'
“The College welcomes the recognition that using terminology such as ‘benign’ gynaecology trivialises the progressive nature and severity of many non-cancer gynaecology conditions. We are committed to working with NHS England, NICE and other professional bodies, and women, to identify and support the adoption of preferred language across the health system.
“The number of women and people who have poor experiences of gynaecological procedures like hysteroscopy, particularly in outpatient settings, is deeply concerning. We urge local health providers to adopt the College’s clinical guidelines, to ensure women can make an informed choice supported by accurate information at the time of referral and at the procedure appointment. We promote our clinical guidelines widely but, as we are not a formal regulator, we cannot enforce their implementation locally.”
- Read the government's response to the WEC report recommendations here.
- Read our response to the WEC report here.
- Read our Waiting for a way forward report here.