Recommendations & Conclusions
28 items
2
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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 The requirement in the draft guidance …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
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
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
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
7
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
9
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
12
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
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 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
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
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
18
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
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
21
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
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
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
25
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
27
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
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
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
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
32
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
34
Conclusion
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
38
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
43
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
48
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
50
Recommendation
1st Report - Women's reproductive healt…
Deferred
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
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