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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 … Show more

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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

3 items
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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 remains unaddressed.
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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. Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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 AI summary
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.
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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 ↗

Who gave evidence

16 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Professor Dame Lesley Regan — 2
Charlotte McArdle · Deputy Chief Nursing Officer NHS England 1
Dr Anne Connolly MBE · Co-Chair Menstrual Health Coalition 1
Dr Geeta Kumar · Vice President for Clinical Quality Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) 1
Dr Judith Richardson · Programme Director National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 1
Dr Michael Mulholland · Honorary Secretary Royal College of General Practitioners 1
Dr Robin Buckle · Chief Science Officer Medical Research Council 1
Dr Sue Mann — 1
Janet Lindsay · Chief Executive Wellbeing of Women 1
Maria Caulfield MP · Minister for Mental Health and Women's Health Str… Department of Health and Social Care 1
Naga Munchetty — 1
Professor Hilary Critchley FMedSci · Fellow Academy of Medical Sciences 1
Professor Lucy Chappell FMedSci · Chief Executive Officer National Institute of Health and Care Research 1
Professor Sue Carr · Deputy Medical Director General Medical Council (GMC) 1
Rebekah Lloyd · Founder This Independent Life 1
Vicky Pattison — 1

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…