The Big Conversation on women’s health

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views on women’s healthcare in The Big Conversation last year.

Thousands of women across the North East and North Cumbria had their say about NHS healthcare by taking part in an online survey and focus groups targeting specific groups of women, such as those who have additional health inequalities or barriers to accessing health care.

The report has now been published identifying key themes and recommendations.

Background

Women, making up 51% of the national population, live longer than men but spend more time in ill health and living with disabilities. There is not enough focus on women specific conditions or how conditions, that affect both men and women, impact on women differently.

In 2022, the UK Government published their first strategy focusing on women’s health inequalities. The 10-year ‘Women’s Health Strategy for England’ set out commitments to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls and deliver better health outcomes.

In our region, the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) is committed to driving forward the Women’s Health Strategy and making changes that will benefit local people and future generations.

During the ICB’s second annual Women’s Health Conference in July 2024, the ‘The Big Conversation’ was launched in partnership with the North East and North Cumbria Healthwatch network.

Headline findings

• 61% of women said they feel confident to speak with a healthcare professional about their women’s health issues. However, many went on to say they aren’t confident they will be heard or get the help they need.
• GPs have a critical role as the ‘gatekeepers to support’ for most women. We heard that many women are concerned that their GP does not listen to them, act on what they are told or doesn’t have up to date knowledge about many women’s health issues. Improving experiences in primary care will significantly improve confidence in women’s health care.
• Women want the choice to have a female healthcare professional; this is a strong message from general engagement but particularly important in targeted work with underrepresented groups.
• The GP (75%) and NHS website (75%) were selected as the most common place to find information on women’s health. A session with underrepresented groups highlighted the need for targeted accessible communications and the importance of peers in their communities and community support organisations.
• It is important to women that their health records are easily accessible by healthcare professionals and kept up to date.
• Women would like more research into women’s health concerns.

Top priorities

Overall, women said their top 5 priorities in relation to women’s health are:

1. Mental health and wellbeing: including depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
2. Healthy ageing and long-term conditions: including falls, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, bone, joint and muscle health, and bladder/urinary.
3. Menopause, perimenopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
4. Screening services: including cancer screenings for cervical, breast and bowel.
5. Menstrual and gynaecological health.

Read the full report and recommendations

If you would like to tell us about your experience of women’s health services please get in touch.