The Government has today set out our top priorities for the landmark Women’s Health Strategy for 2024, which include problem periods, maternity care and birth trauma support.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"The UK is committed to delivering worldclass healthcare to everyone. In order to do that, we are breaking down obstacles women face in healthcare and tackling the issues that matter to them.
"I would particularly like to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Theo Clarke MP who has brought birth trauma to the forefront through bravely articulating in Parliament her own harrowing personal experiences."
Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins said:
“We’re breaking historical barriers that prevent women getting the care they need, building greater understanding of women’s healthcare issues and ensuring their voices and choices are listened to.
“We’ve made huge progress – enabling almost half a million women access cheaper HRT, supporting women through the agony of pregnancy loss and opening new women’s health hubs – but I absolutely recognise there is more to do.
“We’re ensuring these changes benefit all women, regardless of socioeconomic background or ethnicity, because our Women’s Health Strategy is only a success if it works for all women.”
The Government's 2024 priorities were developed from responses to its call for evidence from over 100,000 healthcare professionals, women’s health champions, members of the public and other stakeholders across the health sector. They are:
- Improving care before, during and after pregnancy by continuing to deliver on the Three Year Delivery Plan and ensuring women understand the care they can expect from the NHS during pregnancy and after giving birth. We will also be supporting women who suffer with birth trauma and ensure both mental and physical health are prioritised. A greater focus will be placed on preconception and postnatal care for women, and actioning the recommendations set out in the Pregnancy Loss Review.
- Better care for gynaecological conditions and menstrual problems by producing new guidance and workplace support for women suffering from painful heavy periods and endometriosis, promoting easier access to contraception - which often plays a vital role in managing menstrual problems, and new guidance and workplace support for women suffering during their menstrual periods and menopause. The Office for National Statistics will investigate the impact of period problems and endometriosis on women’s participation and progress at work, improving our understanding to achieve reductions in diagnosis times.
- Expanding women’s health hubs by building on our £25 million investment. These hubs improve women’s access to care, improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. We are working towards the aim of establishing one fully functioning hub in every local area this year, enabling better access and quality of care in services for menstrual problems, contraception, pelvic pain, menopause care and more.
- Tackling disparities and improving support for vulnerable women, including victims of sexual abuse and violence by ensuring training and support systems are working collaboratively and efficiently. This will include creating new models within the NHS to protect its staff. We will focus on improving the health of women in the justice system by implementing the recommendations set out in the National Women’s Prison Health and Social Care Review.
- Bolstering research into women's health – a vital component to levelling up the playing field for women’s health. This year will focus on preconception and postnatal care for women, including contraception provision, and on raising awareness of morning sickness. It builds on the £53 million invested via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) programmes and will continue to improve how women are represented in medical research through its Research Inclusion Strategy.
Minister for Women’s Health Maria Caulfield said:
“Helping women and girls who suffer from bad periods can make a huge difference to their lives, education and careers. And any woman who has experienced trauma after giving birth – either mentally or physically – will know the impact it can have on all aspects of her life.
“These are issues that impact women but they should not be seen as a ‘women’s problems’ – it is an everyone problem. We are doing more to put these issues on the agenda and keep them there, to close the gender health gap once and for all.
“We’ve made enormous strides in the first year of the Strategy and I’m excited to see what 2024 will bring.”
The Government's plans for this year will build on the successes delivered since the Strategy first launched 18 months ago, which include widening the availability of Hormone Replacement Therapy to over half a million women and the rollout of specialist women’s health hubs in every local health area. The Strategy has also championed the creation of a new dedicated women’s health section of the NHS website, providing updated information, advice and practical resources for women’s health across the life course.
As well as setting out its new priorities, the Government also announced the reappointment of Professor Dame Lesley Regan as Women’s Health Ambassador for England for a further two years, to December 2025.
Professor Dame Lesley was appointed as the Women’s Health Ambassador in 2022 and brings a raft of expertise spanning a 44-year career in women’s health as a practicing clinician. She has specialised in core areas including miscarriage, period problems, gynaecological surgery, and menopause.
Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Women’s Health Ambassador said:
“Our Women’s Health Strategy is ambitious. It was created to ensure our healthcare system places women’s health on an equal footing to men.
“I want women everywhere to feel confident that when seek advice from their healthcare professional, whether it’s for heavy or painful periods or issues following birth, they know they are going to receive worldclass treatment. This is the ultimate goal of the Strategy, and I am delighted that we have made such positive progress in the first year and generated so much enthusiastic help to succeed.
“This coming year offers us the opportunity of taking further steps forward in delivering better healthcare outcomes for every woman in our society.”
Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May, said:
“The NHS is committed to ensuring women’s individual healthcare needs are met, which is why every area of England is being supported to develop a women’s health hub alongside the rollout of a network of Women’s Health Champions, who will use their leadership and experience to drive forward work to improve women’s health.
“The NHS is also rolling out dedicated pelvic health clinics, and every local health system now has a specialist community perinatal mental health team and we have also made it easier to access contraception through local pharmacies.
“But there is clearly more to do which is why it is brilliant to see the publication of the women’s health priorities for 2024."
