Whether it’s periods, pregnancy or menopause, women and those born female have unique health conditions.
Although the life expectancy for a woman is usually longer than for a man, statistics show women live with ill health for more of their lives than men do.
A national Women’s Health Strategy has been launched to help to put more support in place, and in Kent and Medway we’re keen to hear from local people to help us develop our local approach to women’s health and wellbeing.
Information on women’s health conditions
The NHS has improved the information it provides on women’s health conditions.
How we’re implementing the Women’s Health Strategy
The national Women’s Health Strategy sets out an ambition for the next 10 years to:
- boost health outcomes for all women and girls
- radically improve the way in which the health and care system engages and listens to all women and girls
- take a life course approach
- focus on women’s health policy and services throughout their lives
- embed hybrid and wrap-around services as best practice
- boost the representation of women’s voices and experiences in policy-making, and at all levels of the health and care system.
Women’s health hubs
A £25 million investment has been made nationwide and work is underway to encourage further expansion.
In Kent and Medway, we are improving training in women’s health services and are engaging with people to understand what else we can do.
Network of women’s health champions
A network of women’s health champions has been created nationally.
In Kent and Medway, we have appointed Dr Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Kent and Medway, as Women’s Health Champion.
Information and awareness
Information on women’s health has been improved on the NHS website, and materials are being produced in other formats, including for YouTube and Instagram, as well as non-digital resources.
In Kent and Medway, we are promoting this information to local people.
Health in the workplace
Nationally, workplace support is being improved for menopause, and work is underway with employers and women to improve workplace support for other reproductive health issues.
In Kent and Medway, we have introduced a package of support for women working for local councils, the NHS, and its providers about menopause and training is underway for managers to support colleagues.
Pregnancy loss
Delivering the government response to the Independent Pregnancy Loss Review.
In Kent and Medway, we have introduced Thrive, a new specialist maternal mental health service, which supports women through perinatal loss, whether that is miscarriage, recurrent failed IVF treatment, stillbirth or neonatal death. The service is a specialist service for persistent mental health difficulties following talking therapies.
Fertility
Improving access to fertility treatment for female same-sex couples, and beginning work to review the use of non-clinical criteria in IVF access, with a view to improving equality of provision across ICBs.
In Kent and Medway, same sex couples are eligible for fertility treatment.
Menopause care and access to HRT
Implementation of the HRT prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), working with manufacturers on HRT supply, using the UK Menopause Taskforce to champion four-nations collaborative working, and delivery of the NHSE menopause programme.
In Kent and Medway, we are also working across the NHS and local councils to improve menopause support in the workplace.
Healthy ageing and long-term conditions
Improving awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and dementia.
In Kent and Medway, we are analysing data around women’s health and long-term conditions. Cardiac disease remains the largest single cause of maternal deaths.
Research and evidence
Continuing towards our goal that research is representative of society, by focusing on (a) research being more representative of women, as participants, decision makers and researchers, (b) research prioritising women's health, care and wellbeing, and addressing the gaps identified through the call for evidence and (c) making sure research findings reach an even broader audience to further improve the impact of research in healthcare policy and practice.
In Kent and Medway, we are working with Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex to address this.