A woman’s sex matters – especially regarding healthcare and research

As Health and Social Care Secretary I want to make women’s access to healthcare faster, simpler and fairer, so I will set out the next steps for our Women’s Health Strategy to close the marked gap between women’s and men’s experiences of the healthcare system.

Women are half as likely to receive painkillers after surgery and despite living longer, we spend more of our lives in ill health than do men.

Our health issues are often overlooked and under-researched and

I am determined to change this. A woman’s sex matters, especially when it comes to healthcare and research.

The Women’s Health Strategy is the plan to make this happen. Last year we made menopause a top priority, helping almost half a million women get better and cheaper access to HRT.

More than a million women have also accessed help and support on our new menopause hub on the NHS website.

Our strategy is getting results but there is plenty more to do to reach our targets. At our Women’s Health Summit today, bringing together women who have benefited from the strategy, clinicians and women’s health organisations, I will be setting out our priorities for the year ahead, championing new ways to get women the best support for all life stages.

Improving births and mothers’ experiences is crucial – regardless of who you are or where you live – women everywhere need to be reassured they will get the best care.

This spring, a call to arms will go out to researchers. By autumn, they will be innovating together, finding ways to give mums a helping hand before, during and after pregnancy, backed by £50 million.

We’re already making changes to services for women who have experienced physical and mental trauma while giving birth, thanks to brave women like Theo Clarke MP who have shared their harrowing personal stories.

We are also listening to women who have been through the mill with other conditions.

I met two inspirational women recently who have been diagnosed with an aggressive and very difficult to detect breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer accounts for 15 per cent of breast cancers, yet much more research is needed into its symptoms and treatment.

Thanks to their campaigning and the support of Jeremy Quin MP and Dehenna Davison MP, we will encourage research into lobular breast cancer and other under-researched women’s health issues, as well as conditions that affect women and men differently, such as heart attacks.

Menstrual conditions like endometriosis, heavy or painful periods and menopause support are all areas we will be focusing on.

We’ll also be providing greater support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse – no matter whether they are patients or healthcare staff – and we will improve the health of women in the justice system. And to bring services that women need under one roof, I want to see at least one women’s health hub up and running in every local health area of the country by the end of this year.

This will give more women better and more joined up access to a range of services like contraception, menstrual health support and menopause care.

We have also made it easier for women to access the contraceptive pill through our Pharmacy First programme, meaning women no longer need to go to the GP before getting their prescription.

From the early diagnosis of complications in pregnancy to ensuring that the symptoms of heart attacks are recognised and treated, there is much to be done.

We have come such a long way since the strategy was first launched, and together, we can go further in the coming 12 months to close the gender health gap and help women live healthy, happy and long lives.

‘Improving births and mothers’ experiences is crucial – regardless of who you are or where you live’