Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Women's reproductive health conditions

Status: Closed Opened: 25 Jul 2023 Closed: 2 May 2025 21 recommendations 30 conclusions 1 report

A short inquiry looking at women’s reproductive health and the challenges that women face when they are being diagnosed and treated for these conditions. The inquiry considers any disparities that exist in the diagnosis and treatment, and the impact of women’s experiences on their health and lives. Read the terms of reference to find out …

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Women's reproductive health conditions HC 337 11 Dec 2024 51 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

51 items
1 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

High quality reproductive health education vital, welcomed in draft RSHE statutory guidance

High quality education about reproductive health is vital. Educating girls about their periods and the possibility of related conditions at a young age safeguards them against the distress of not understanding what is happening to their bodies and empowers them to identify problems and to seek help. We welcome the …

Government response. The government agrees on the importance of comprehensive menstrual health education and states the Department for Education is reviewing the RSHE statutory guidance, including menstrual and gynaecological health, with consultation results and its response to be published this year.
Government Equalities Office
2 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Revise draft RSHE guidance on menstrual health due to insufficient and late teaching

However, we are concerned that the teaching of the menstrual health element of relationships, sex and health education is insufficient and inconsistent. It is often delivered too late in a child’s development to be of use and by teachers who lack the necessary training. The requirement in the draft guidance …

Government response. The government agrees on the importance of comprehensive menstrual health education, outlining existing RSHE coverage, and states that the Department for Education is currently reviewing the statutory guidance and will consider the recommendations as part of this process, with results …
Government Equalities Office
3 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Ensure RSHE teachers receive training and deliver comprehensive reproductive health education early

The Government should ensure teachers tasked with delivering the menstrual and gynaecological health element of RSHE receive the training necessary to deliver it effectively. Information on women’s reproductive health conditions should be taught early on in secondary education, preferably around the time most girls first experience menstruation. That information should …

Government response. The government deflects the recommendation regarding teacher training for RSHE and curriculum content, instead focusing on the provision of general women's health information via the NHS website and the development of women's health hubs.
Government Equalities Office
4 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Guidance fails to recognise importance of boys and men understanding reproductive health conditions

The guidance fails to recognise the importance of boys and men understanding reproductive health conditions that their peers might experience and their role in changing the culture and stigma that girls face. (Paragraph 26) 72 Publicly available information

Government response. The government's response focuses on the NHS's digital and social media initiatives to provide information to women and girls on reproductive health, and a competition for women's health innovations, rather than addressing the recommendation about teaching boys and men about …
Government Equalities Office
5 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Specify in statutory guidance that boys must be taught female reproductive health conditions

The statutory guidance should specify that boys should be taught about female reproductive health conditions.

Government response. The government's response deflects the recommendation to specify teaching boys about female reproductive health in statutory guidance by discussing NHS England's plans for elective care reform, addressing racial biases in healthcare, and professional training for healthcare professionals.
Government Equalities Office
6 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Ongoing NHS website improvements for women's reproductive health information are welcomed

We welcome the ongoing improvements to the NHS website to include information about a wider range of women’s reproductive health conditions, information to specific communities and signposts to support and the ambition to include that information in alternative formats.

Government response. The government outlined existing plans for reforming elective care, including gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres, aiming to meet the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard by March 2029. It also highlighted ongoing Office for National Statistics studies on endometriosis and NHS England's …
Government Equalities Office
7 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Enhance NHS website and app to be comprehensive, accessible, inclusive, and highly-visible

We know that many women and girls are using online spaces to get information and seek help while there are gaps in support in medical fields. It is therefore imperative that the NHS and trusted sources become a first-port-of-call to prevent misinformation. The NHS website and app must therefore be …

Government response. The government focused on the inclusivity aspect, noting RCOG is developing a guideline for trans and gender-diverse adults by 2026, which NHS England encourages but will not actively implement. It mentioned NHS England's existing LGBT+ health programme but did not …
Government Equalities Office
8 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Improve NHS website with interactive tools, guidelines, accessibility, and mental health support

To supplement improvements in the provision of information on the NHS website, we recommend the inclusion of an interactive tool which can help women to determine whether they might have a reproductive health condition. We further recommend that information on specific conditions, contains links to the relevant medical guidelines so …

Government response. The government emphasised that healthcare professionals are expected to provide comprehensive information, discuss treatment options, pain relief, and use shared decision-making, citing existing NHS England guidance. It also noted that women's health hubs provide specialist knowledge, but did not commit …
Government Equalities Office
9 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Increase NHS digital and social media presence for reproductive health conditions consistently

With women and girls relying on online spaces and a proliferation of femtech apps to fill gaps in their knowledge of reproductive health conditions, the NHS should increase its own digital and social media presence in relation to reproductive health conditions. This should be consistent rather than a one-off campaign …

Government response. The government did not address the recommendation to increase the NHS's digital and social media presence for reproductive health. Instead, it acknowledged poor experiences with procedural pain and committed to NHS England holding a roundtable in spring 2025 to discuss …
Government Equalities Office
10 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Medical misogyny and racism lead to dismissed pain in women's reproductive healthcare.

There is a clear lack of awareness and understanding of women’s reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners, particularly when those conditions occur in young women and girls. Women are finding their symptoms normalised and their pain dismissed, with an ingrained belief among some healthcare professionals that women, 73 particularly …

Government response. The government agreed on the importance of addressing women’s pain and experiences. It committed that NHS England, with DHSC, will review the potential of conducting the Reproductive Health Survey regularly and that NHS England will review national data collection processes …
Government Equalities Office
11 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Implement urgent NHS training challenging racial biases to improve reproductive healthcare in primary care.

The NHS needs to urgently implement a training programme to improve the experience of treatment and diagnosis in primary care for women, girls, trans and non-binary people with reproductive ill health. Improving early diagnosis, including through the provision of follow up appointments, must be a priority to prevent a worsening …

Government response. The government recognises the importance of raising awareness and committing to addressing racial biases, referring to an existing RCGP Women's Health Library with educational resources for primary care professionals. It also points to NHS England's plan to meet 18-week treatment …
Government Equalities Office
12 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Establish improved diagnosis times as a key performance indicator for Women's Health Strategy.

Improvements in diagnosis times should be made a key performance indicator for the Women’s Health Strategy for England.

Government response. The government did not address the recommendation to make improvements in diagnosis times a key performance indicator for the Women’s Health Strategy. Instead, it focused on improving mental healthcare provision for women, committing to recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health …
Government Equalities Office
13 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Implement RCOG inclusive care guidelines throughout healthcare, ensuring practitioner training and monitoring by RCOG.

We support the Royal College for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ initiative for a guideline on inclusive care. When finalised it should be implemented throughout the healthcare system and medical practitioners must receive adequate training, with implementation monitored by the RCOG.

Government response. The government did not address the recommendation regarding the implementation, training, and monitoring of the RCOG guideline on inclusive care. Instead, it focused on the role of women's health hubs in local communities and their potential to commission mental health …
Government Equalities Office
14 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Healthcare practitioners insufficiently understand reproductive health treatment options and their impact on patients.

Healthcare practitioners lack sufficient understanding of the range and suitability of treatment options available to treat reproductive health conditions. Too often conditions are viewed through the prism of fertility which, while a necessary consideration, should not be the only factor influencing a clinician’s judgement. There is also an evident lack …

Government response. The government did not address the core recommendation about practitioners' lack of understanding, empathy, and narrow focus on fertility. It instead acknowledged the negative impact of mixed waiting areas and committed that NHS England will publish the findings of the …
Government Equalities Office
15 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Mandate NHS practitioners to stay updated and address regional disparities in reproductive health treatments.

The NHS must take steps to ensure healthcare practitioners keep up to date with the full range of diagnostic and treatment options available for reproductive health conditions. Those options, as well as waiting times and potential outcomes of surgical procedures and non-invasive alternatives, should be communicated to patients as a …

Government response. The government did not address the recommendation for healthcare practitioners to keep up to date on treatment options, communicate these to patients, or address regional disparities. Instead, it focused on the problematic use of the term 'benign gynaecology', committing that …
Government Equalities Office
16 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

NHS fails patients during routine reproductive procedures, neglecting duty of care and pain management.

The NHS is failing many patients who undergo routine reproductive healthcare procedures such as hysteroscopy, IUD fitting and cervical screening. In too many cases, we find that a duty of care from gynaecologists and other medical practitioners is absent. Women are being pressured into enduring severe pain and find that …

Government response. The government did not directly address the concerns about absent duty of care, patients enduring severe pain, or being ignored/belittled during procedures. Instead, it focused on its commitment to cutting waiting lists and reforming elective care through NHS England's plan …
Government Equalities Office
17 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Enforce informed consent and halt painful gynaecological procedures lacking adequate pain relief.

The NHS must do more to monitor and enforce protocols governing procedures such hysteroscopy, IUD fitting and cervical screening and ensure that they are underpinned by informed consent and are trauma-informed. A risk assessment that allows a patient to make an informed choice on the recommended procedure should be undertaken …

Government response. The government commits to NHS England publishing a suite of adult and children's elective performance metrics, long waits, and waiting times data in an accessible format by March 2027. It will also increase the availability of elective, cancer, and outpatient …
Government Equalities Office
18 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Collect NHS data on adherence to guidelines for painful gynaecological procedures and patient experience.

Concerns about painful procedures have been raised for years with little sign of progress. We recommend the NHS collects data on whether guidelines for hysteroscopy, IUD fittings and other potentially painful gynaecological procedures are being adhered to. That data must include surveys of patient experience. Without the pressure of having …

Government response. The government's response did not address the recommendation about collecting data on adherence to guidelines for painful gynaecological procedures. Instead, it discussed the affordability of period products and prescription charges.
Government Equalities Office
19 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Establish reducing pain in invasive procedures as a key performance indicator for Women's Health Strategy.

Reducing the pain women experience during invasive procedures should be made a key performance indicator for the Women’s Health Strategy for England. (Paragraph 82) 75 Effect on mental health

Government response. The government's response did not address the recommendation about making pain reduction in invasive procedures a key performance indicator for the Women's Health Strategy. Instead, it discussed mandating gender equality action plans for large employers.
Government Equalities Office
20 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Offer specialist mental health support to individuals with reproductive health conditions from first symptoms through treatment

Individuals with a suspected or diagnosed reproductive health condition should be offered specialist mental health support from when they start to report distressing and/or painful symptoms and throughout diagnosis and treatment. Delays at each step of the process and a lack of treatment options make mental health support all the …

Government response. The government highlights existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) providing 24/7 care and enhanced mental health pathways for victims of rape and sexual assault. It states NHS England will review and develop website content for those needing help, and will …
Government Equalities Office
21 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Commission women's health hubs to include mental health support in core specification in underserved areas

Women’s health hubs situated in areas where access to appropriate mental health services is lacking should be commissioned to include mental health support as part of their core specification.

Government response. The government's response focuses on the importance of training for primary care professionals in women's reproductive health and existing resources. It states NHS England is assessing workforce training gaps and scoping future clinical training needs but does not commit to …
Government Equalities Office
22 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Implement policies ensuring separate spaces for reproductive health and obstetrics patients during investigations/treatment

NHS England should implement policies to ensure there are separate spaces for patients undergoing investigations or treatment for reproductive health conditions and obstetrics patients. (Paragraph 91) Waiting lists

Government response. The government's response did not address the recommendation for separate spaces for reproductive health and obstetrics patients. Instead, it discussed the diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), including the potential role of AMH blood tests and NICE's planned clinical guideline …
Government Equalities Office
23 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Benign gynaecology' terminology downplays reproductive health conditions, risking treatment de-prioritisation

The use of terminology such as ‘benign gynaecology’ downplays the impact of reproductive health conditions and risks de-prioritising them for treatment that could significantly improve patients’ health and lives.

Government response. The government's response did not address the recommendation to cease using terminology like 'benign gynaecology.' Instead, it focused on primary care professionals' training and appraisal processes, and how patient satisfaction is captured through the GP Patient Survey.
Government Equalities Office
24 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Rejected

Cease using 'benign' and reprioritise chronic reproductive conditions like endometriosis for surgical treatment

NHS England should cease to use the term benign in relation to reproductive ill health. The NHS should work with stakeholders to develop a way to describe these conditions that more accurately reflects the serious impact they can have on people’s lives. This should include a wider discussion about what …

Government response. The government recognizes the importance of training in women's reproductive health but states NHS England will not collect data on primary care practitioners' training hours due to burdens and logistical challenges. The recommendation about terminology and prioritisation for chronic conditions …
Government Equalities Office
25 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Prioritise longest elective surgery waiting lists and provide financial support for women's travel

Measures to reduce waiting lists for elective surgery should prioritise areas where waiting lists are longest and disparities greatest. The NHS should provide financial support to women to allow them to travel further to access care earlier.

Government response. The government's response did not address the recommendation to prioritise waiting list reduction or provide financial support for women to travel for earlier care. Instead, it focused on the training and curricula of medical professionals, noting that women's health is …
Government Equalities Office
26 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Acknowledged

Collect comprehensive data on reproductive health delays, referrals, and treatment outcomes to address inequalities

Data and analysis must improve. The NHS should collect data on where there are delays in the system, where women are being referred from, which could highlight areas where community provision is lacking, which groups of women are most affected by delays, to allow better understanding of health inequalities, how …

Government response. The government commits to reviewing and updating existing e-learning training packages for primary care practitioners to promote opportunistic reproductive healthcare during routine contacts like the 6-8 week maternal postnatal check. It will also consider what else can be done to …
Government Equalities Office
27 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Existing period and incontinence product schemes are inadequate, financially disadvantaging women and girls

More than half of the population will experience menstruation yet women and girls are financially disadvantaged by having to pay for essential products without which they cannot leave their homes, work or attend education. This is an unfair burden, not least given the existing context of a gender pay gap …

Government response. The government's response focused on the work of NICE in developing clinical guidelines for reproductive health conditions and its process for prioritising new guidance topics. It did not address the recommendation for reviewing period and incontinence product schemes or considering …
Government Equalities Office
28 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Review period/incontinence schemes and provide free products for vulnerable groups, including via prescription

The Government should review existing period and incontinence product schemes alongside the burden of need. We recommend the Government considers the merits of legislating for free provision for particular groups such as children, students, people seeking asylum and those in receipt of benefits. Products that are appropriate for heavy bleeding …

Government response. The government response outlined its commitment to a neighbourhood health service and the development of women's health hubs, noting 80 of 88 planned hubs are operational. It did not address the recommendation to review period and incontinence product schemes or …
Government Equalities Office
29 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Incentivise workplaces to adopt strategies supporting women with reproductive ill health, including flexible working

Workplaces must be incentivised by the Government to have strategies in place to support women experiencing reproductive ill health. The availability of flexible working patterns, a workplace that provides easy access to period products, and time off to attend appointments are just some of the measures that can better support …

Government response. The government response detailed efforts to tailor women's health hubs to local populations and outlined NHS England's development of an equity framework to reduce inequalities, focusing on menopause and heavy menstrual bleeding. It did not address workplace incentives, support strategies …
Government Equalities Office
30 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Amend Employment Rights Bill Clause 26 to define reproductive health support as advancing gender equality.

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. (Paragraph 111) 77 Violence against women and girls

Government response. The government response highlighted the role of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in women's reproductive health and stated it will consider LARC fee structures and work to understand training issues. It did not address the recommendation to amend Clause 26 of …
Government Equalities Office
31 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Acknowledged

Incorporate support for women and children conceived through rape into the Women's Health Strategy.

The Government’s plans for the Women’s Health Strategy for England should include support and guidance for women who have conceived as a result of rape, and for children born as a result of rape. This should include tailored information on the NHS website, including on rape-induced gynaecological issues. (Paragraph 113) …

Government response. The government stated it is working to take forward the Women's Health Strategy for England and will 'take into account' the committee’s recommendations on specific areas of focus, including this one, as part of that ongoing work.
Government Equalities Office
32 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Set out plans to improve primary care practitioners' training in women’s reproductive health conditions.

The Department of Health and Social Care should set out plans to improve the accessibility and take up of professional development in women’s reproductive health conditions among practitioners in primary care. Those plans should include allocating increased funding for training on reproductive health conditions and protected time for GPs to …

Government response. The government detailed its commitment to funding research into women’s reproductive health conditions through NIHR and UKRI, highlighting initiatives to increase investment and support academic training in this field. It did not outline plans for improving professional development or funding …
Government Equalities Office
33 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Acknowledged

Evaluate merits of nationally rolling out the anti-mullarian hormone blood test for PCOS diagnosis.

The approval of the anti-mullarian hormone blood test as another tool to assist in the diagnosis of polycycstic ovary syndrome is a welcome development. NHS England should evaluate the merits of rolling it out nationally as a matter of priority.

Government response. The government stated it is working to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England and will consider the committee's recommendations on topics and key indicators, including the evaluation of the anti-mullarian hormone blood test, as part of this ongoing …
Government Equalities Office
34 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

GPs struggle to diagnose complex reproductive health conditions due to systemic pressures.

GPs face difficulties diagnosing complicated reproductive healthcare conditions which may present with a variety of symptoms. They face workplace pressures, have short consultation times, and can struggle to access training and guidance. While it is positive to see that medical guidelines and assessments are being updated, further work on professional …

Government response. The government acknowledged the importance of early intervention and referred to NHS England’s plan to reform elective care and meet the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard by March 2029, which aims for earlier diagnoses and treatment. It did not commit to further …
Government Equalities Office
35 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Rejected

Strengthen annual GP appraisal with performance indicator on women's reproductive health diagnosis and treatment.

The annual GP appraisal process should be strengthened to include a specific performance indicator on the diagnosis and treatment of women’s reproductive health conditions, including intersectional considerations. That indicator should include patient experience.

Government response. The government rejects adding specific performance indicators for women's reproductive health to GP appraisals, explaining that such indicators are not part of the system, but notes that patient experience is already captured through 360-degree reviews and the GP Patient Survey.
Government Equalities Office
36 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Rejected

Collect annual data on primary care practitioners' training hours in women’s reproductive health.

NHS Digital should collect data on how many hours of training primary care practitioners undergo annually in the field of women’s reproductive health. (Paragraph 131) Medical education

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for NHS Digital to collect data on training hours for primary care practitioners, citing burdens, potential overlap with regulators, and logistical challenges, and refers to existing CPD and appraisal processes.
Government Equalities Office
37 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Medical schools provide insufficient training on women’s reproductive health, impacting practitioner knowledge.

Training on women’s reproductive health in medical schools needs to be improved. Healthcare practitioners are graduating without sufficient knowledge of the conditions that may affect women over their lifetime . 78 Without that education, healthcare professionals are less likely to choose women’s health as a specialty and less able to …

Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of training and describes existing measures, such as GMC standards, the new MLA assessment topics (including women's health), and mandatory obstetrics and gynaecology rotations, as already addressing the need for improved education.
Government Equalities Office
38 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Improve undergraduate women's health teaching and incentivise specialisation in reproductive healthcare.

The Government should work with the RCOG, RCGP and the GMC to improve the teaching of women’s health at undergraduate level and ensure it is an integral part of medical education for all those seeking a career in healthcare. As part of that work the Government should consider how to …

Government response. The government states the GMC, an independent body, is responsible for setting medical standards and curricula, noting that the GMC's new MLA includes women's health topics. It clarifies that obstetrics and gynaecology is already a mandatory undergraduate rotation, and does …
Government Equalities Office
39 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Train primary care practitioners to identify hidden reproductive health concerns during routine interactions.

Primary care practitioners should be trained to use women’s common interactions with the healthcare system, such as cervical screening appointments, ante- and post-natal care checks and visits to STI clinics, as an opportunity to pick up hidden health concerns relating to reproductive health. (Paragraph 139) Medical guidelines and standards

Government response. The government accepts the recommendation, stating work is underway and committing to holding webinars for primary care practitioners, reviewing and updating existing e-learning packages, and referencing 2023 guidance on postnatal checks and the role of women’s health hubs.
Government Equalities Office
40 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted in Part

Commission NICE to develop and disseminate comprehensive guidelines for all reproductive health conditions, monitoring adherence.

The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England should commission NICE to develop comprehensive guidelines for all reproductive health conditions. Those guidelines should be communicated to GPs and made accessible to patients through the NHS website to allow informed patient-GP discussions. Adherence to these guidelines by medical practitioners …

Government response. The government accepts that reproductive health is a priority for guidelines and notes NICE already has an extensive portfolio and is developing new guidance, but states NICE cannot commit to developing comprehensive guidelines for all conditions due to limited capacity …
Government Equalities Office
41 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Not Addressed

Women's health hub model shows promise but faces systemic challenges and risks unequal access.

The expansion of the women’s health hub model has the potential to be a positive step towards providing the joined-up care and commissioning needed to effectively support women experiencing reproductive health conditions. However, the women’s health hub model exists within a healthcare system which has significant commissioning, funding, workforce and …

Government response. The government highlights its commitment to neighbourhood health services and the positive impact and cost-benefit of women's health hubs, noting ICBs are responsible for commissioning these services. It does not directly address the committee's concerns about systemic problems or risks …
Government Equalities Office
42 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Not Addressed

Women's health hubs require national evaluation to ensure benefits and multi-service provision.

It is positive to hear that many of the leaders in the ICBs are focusing their hubs on disadvantaged groups. While local ownership, management and decentralisation of the hubs is important to meet local needs, regular national-level evaluations are also required to ensure that the hubs are providing the intended …

Government response. The government reiterates its commitment to neighbourhood health services and the positive impacts of women's health hubs, noting that ICBs are responsible for commissioning and are encouraged to provide multiple services. It does not commit to national-level evaluations.
Government Equalities Office
43 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Allocate long-term, ring-fenced funding and resources to embed and develop the women's health hub model.

We find that women’s health hubs have proven the concept that they can deliver improvements to women’s healthcare. The Government must now allocate long-term, ring-fenced funding and resource to embed the hub model and further support its development. That development should include increased provision of ultrasound facilities within hubs. Funding …

Government response. The government expresses commitment to local health services and acknowledges the positive impact of women's health hubs. However, it states that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning and funding these services, and the core specification encourages ICBs to …
Government Equalities Office
44 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Acknowledged

Ensure women's health hubs meet specific demographic needs, accounting for religious and cultural considerations.

Integrated care boards must ensure that their hubs meet the specific demographic needs of their populations, particularly accounting for religious and cultural considerations.

Government response. The government agrees that hubs must be tailored to local needs and highlights that NHS England is developing an equity framework for ICBs, which hubs are likely to implement. It also notes existing legal duties and programmes for reducing health …
Government Equalities Office
45 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Acknowledged

Postcode lottery in primary care access to long-acting reversible contraception creates delays and burdens.

There remains a postcode lottery of access in primary care to long-acting reversible contraception. As a result, some women are having to seek care from secondary or community services, leading to delays in treatment and an unnecessary burden on secondary care. This is a preventable cost to the system and …

Government response. The government acknowledges the vital role of GPs in LARC provision and states it will consider fee structures and announce future funding allocations in due course, while continuing to work with partners to understand training issues.
Government Equalities Office
46 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Acknowledged

Develop funding and training strategy to address insufficient LARC provision in general practice.

The Government should develop a funding and training strategy to address the lack of LARC provision in general practice, particularly in those areas not covered by a women’s health hub. This should include an assessment of whether the current fee structure is fit for purpose. (Paragraph 164) Research

Government response. The government acknowledges the vital role of GPs in LARC provision and states it will consider the fee structures for LARC. It also notes that it continues to work with partners to understand training issues, and future funding allocations will …
Government Equalities Office
47 Conclusion 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Research into women's reproductive health conditions remains insufficient due to inadequate prioritisation and incentives.

Finding the causes of women’s reproductive health conditions and new and better diagnostic tools and treatments for them cannot happen without sufficient research, which includes all groups of women and others affected, at different life stages. Yet research remains lacking because it is not adequately prioritised by funders or commissioners …

Government response. The government fully recognises the importance of funding and building research capacity in women's reproductive health, detailing how NIHR and UKRI fund research and stating that NIHR has invested approximately £258 million over the last five years, a 55% increase. …
Government Equalities Office
48 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Update Women's Health Strategy to prioritise specific conditions and reduce endometriosis diagnosis waiting times.

The Women’s Health Strategy for England should be updated to include priorities for specific, common conditions. We recommend the Government commits to reducing waiting times for an endometriosis diagnosis to less than two years by the end of this Parliament and to improved understanding, diagnosis and treatment of heavy menstrual …

Government response. The government recognises the impact of long wait times for gynaecological conditions and states it is working on taking forward the Women's Health Strategy, considering the committee's recommendations on specific areas of focus. It also refers to previous responses on …
Government Equalities Office
49 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Accepted

Allocate increased ringfenced funding for research into women’s reproductive health and boost clinical academia interest.

The Government should allocate increased, ringfenced funding to support research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of women’s reproductive health conditions. While increased funding will in itself attract more researchers to this area, NHS England and research bodies should also consider what steps they can take to increase interest among …

Government response. The government recognises the importance of funding and building research capacity in women's reproductive health, detailing how NIHR and UKRI fund research through open competition and training awards. It highlights existing initiatives and examples of current funding, but does not …
Government Equalities Office
50 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Publish an implementation plan for the Women’s Health Strategy detailing timelines, costs, and resources.

The Government should publish an implementation plan for the Women’s Health Strategy for England detailing timelines, costs and resource. (Paragraph 184) Funding

Government response. The government is working with NHS England and the Women’s Health Ambassador on how to take forward the Women's Health Strategy and will consider the committee's recommendations for inclusion and indicators as this work progresses.
Government Equalities Office
51 Recommendation 1st Report - Women's reproductive healt… Deferred

Provide additional funding for early diagnosis and treatment of women’s reproductive health conditions.

We call on the Government to recognise the financial benefits of increased investment in early diagnosis and treatment of women’s reproductive health conditions and provide the additional funding necessary to truly transform the support available to the millions of women affected by reproductive ill health in this country. (Paragraph 187) …

Government response. The government recognises the importance of early intervention and refers to an existing NHS plan to reform elective care and meet treatment standards by March 2029 for earlier diagnoses. Information on future funding allocations will be announced later.
Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
13 Nov 2024 Dr Sue Mann, Professor Dame Lesley Regan View ↗
29 Nov 2023 Charlotte McArdle · NHS England, Dr Judith Richardson · National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Dr Robin Buckle · Medical Research Council, Maria Caulfield MP · Department of Health and Social Care, Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Professor Hilary Critchley FMedSci · Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Lucy Chappell FMedSci · National Institute of Health and Care Research View ↗
8 Nov 2023 Dr Anne Connolly MBE · Menstrual Health Coalition, Dr Geeta Kumar · Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Dr Michael Mulholland · Royal College of General Practitioners, Janet Lindsay · Wellbeing of Women, Professor Sue Carr · General Medical Council (GMC), Rebekah Lloyd · This Independent Life View ↗
18 Oct 2023 Naga Munchetty, Vicky Pattison View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
31 Jan 2024 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of H…
10 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, NHS England, relating to Wome…