Plan to stop ‘medical misogyny’ harming women’s reproductive healthcare set out by Gov

It’s been three months since the Women’s and Equalities Committee (WEC) report found ‘medical misogyny’, is leaving women in unnecessary pain and waiting to be diagnosed for years, and this week the Government revealed how it was addressing the issues raised.

We commented on the report back in December, saying we were sceptical of what real difference it would make, especially as nothing of real substance had come of the 10-year Women’s Health Strategy produced by the previous government. We also wondered how – or if – the new administration would adopt the strategy’s programme for improvements in healthcare.

It is pleasing to see the Government has reviewed the report in some detail and has now published its thoughts. The full response can be found here.

In reviewing the WEC report, the Government claims to have worked closely with many Westminster departments and other bodies to consider and provide its response to each of the recommendations.

Responding to WEC’s December report, the Government said it recognises “much more needs to be done to support women with reproductive health conditions” especially when it comes to:

• Listening to women
• Improving information and education and
• Improving access to healthcare services.

It added: “The Government recognises that raising awareness of reproductive ill health is crucial to improving people’s experiences of care and ensuring that no one feels that their pain is dismissed, regardless of ethnicity or socio-cultural situation or belief.

The Government says tackling waiting lists, which includes gynaecology, is a significant part of its health mission: Build an NHS Fit for the Future.

Its response to a number of the recommendations made in the WEC report sets out how it is working with NHS England and the Women’s Health Ambassador on how to take the Women’s Health Strategy for England forward, by aligning it to the Government’s missions under the plan for change and its forthcoming 10 year health plan.

The Government confirms the 10 year health plan will look at how to tackle the inequalities that lead to poor health, including those for women. In particular it vows to commit to setting an explicit target to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gaps.

For each recommendation made in the report the Government sets out what measures are already in place, those planned to take place or those requiring additional work.

We consider this to be a good start at least in showing commitment to improving healthcare for women by listening to concerns and setting out how it plans to address them.

The WEC report called on the Government to recognise the financial benefits of increased investment in early diagnosis and treatment of women’s reproductive health conditions and to provide the additional funding necessary to truly transform the support available to the millions of women affected by reproductive ill health in this country.

The response was that the Government recognises early intervention is crucial to prevent women’s reproductive health conditions from worsening and support women to remain in education and work.

The Government’s comments have been welcomed by the WEC and its chair Labour MP Sarah Owen who said: “We will keep a close eye on developments and will return to the issue in 12 months’ time to assess progress on all our recommendations.

“There are areas where the Government could have gone further, including in relation to period products and on the Employment Rights Bill. The report recommended Clause 26 of the Employment Rights Bill should be amended to make clear that supporting women with reproductive health conditions falls under the definition of advancing gender equality. The Committee wants to see tangible improvements in the management of women’s pain during elective procedures.

“As the Government acknowledges, women suffering with gynaecological conditions have been ‘failed for far too long’ and it is imperative progress is made across the board on diagnosis, education and awareness, accessing support and treatment, pain of investigation, plus training and standards.”

Time will tell how much the Government does indeed wish to enact change.

The WEC along with all others supporting women’s health will hold it to account and challenge delay or inaction to ensure this response doesn’t just fall to lip service.