The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes the formation of the new UK government today, Friday 5 July 2024. This government has the opportunity to set an ambitious vision for women’s health, which has historically been left behind, and the College looks forward to working closely with them.
Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “The RCOG warmly welcomes Labour’s commitment to women’s health and was pleased to see a pledge to cut NHS waiting times in the Labour party manifesto. Gynaecology must be prioritised in the new government’s plans, having consistently outstripped growth compared to other specialties since at least 2018. We also urge the government to continue to implement the Women’s Health Strategy and the expansion of women’s health hubs.
“Maternity services are stretched to their limits and we must see the government implement fully funded policies and programmes to ensure every pregnant woman and birthing person receives high-quality, personalised and safe maternity care.
“Tackling racial inequality is one of my priorities as RCOG President and the College welcomes Labour’s explicit commitment to reducing health inequalities, including a pledge to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap. We encourage the government to set a time-limit for achieving this, and look forward to supporting this vital work.
“Crucially, recognising that the O&G workforce is one of the specialties most at risk of burnout, there must be a continued focus on measures to help attract and retain staff. The RCOG will continue to champion the voice of our membership to drive positive change for the NHS workforce, including building more supportive and learning cultures, encouraging multi-disciplinary training, and increased flexible working.”
- To find out more about the RCOG’s key asks for government click here.