Recommendations & Conclusions
17 items
4
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care should work with expert stakeholders to ensure the range of guidance being produced to support the introduction of the new RSHE curricula in September 2026 reflects the diversity of experiences of menstrual wellbeing and needs of students. Schools …
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The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care should work with expert stakeholders to ensure the range of guidance being produced to support the introduction of the new RSHE curricula in September 2026 reflects the diversity of experiences of menstrual wellbeing and needs of students. Schools will need guidance on teaching menstrual and gynaecological health to pupils from different racial and ethnic 69 backgrounds and to those with disabilities. Teaching materials should reflect a broad range of lived experiences so that students from a diverse range of backgrounds can feel represented and teaching can be tailored to their needs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the DfE will work with expert stakeholders to develop guidance and resources for the updated RSHE curriculum (effective September 2026) to ensure it reflects diverse menstrual wellbeing experiences. The refreshed statutory guidance will be published for consultation later this …
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Government Equalities Office
5
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
As part of the rollout of the updated RSHE curriculum, the Department for Education should develop resources and guidance for teachers and other school staff to embed menstrual health awareness and support at a whole school level. That guidance should include advice on best practice on access to period products …
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As part of the rollout of the updated RSHE curriculum, the Department for Education should develop resources and guidance for teachers and other school staff to embed menstrual health awareness and support at a whole school level. That guidance should include advice on best practice on access to period products and in a way that does not perpetuate stigma. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing the Department for Education to develop comprehensive resources and guidance for schools on menstrual and gynaecological health. This will include advice on period product access and embedding awareness at a whole-school level, to be in force by September 2026.
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Government Equalities Office
6
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
While take up of the period product scheme is high there are still some institutions that have not engaged. The Government should seek to understand why some schools and colleges have not participated in the scheme and encourage them to do so. The scheme should be extended indefinitely. The Government …
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While take up of the period product scheme is high there are still some institutions that have not engaged. The Government should seek to understand why some schools and colleges have not participated in the scheme and encourage them to do so. The scheme should be extended indefinitely. The Government should also explore extending access points beyond schools and colleges to other settings. (Recommendation, Paragraph 38)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to investigate reasons for non-participation in the period product scheme and actively encourage engagement. It will also extend the scheme indefinitely and explore expanding access points beyond schools and colleges within the refreshed Women's Health Strategy.
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Government Equalities Office
7
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
Reports that access to school toilets is being restricted are troubling. The Government should investigate the extent to which this is happening and request that school leaders take alternative approaches to tackling issues regarding discipline. (Recommendation, Paragraph 39)
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Reports that access to school toilets is being restricted are troubling. The Government should investigate the extent to which this is happening and request that school leaders take alternative approaches to tackling issues regarding discipline. (Recommendation, Paragraph 39)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the DfE will investigate restricted school toilet access, work with school leaders to ensure appropriate access, and provide guidance encouraging alternative disciplinary approaches.
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Government Equalities Office
9
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The renewed Women’s Health Strategy should include an aim to improve the provision of school nurses, particularly in more deprived areas, where need is often greatest. Improving early access to care reduces the risk of symptoms worsening and the increased health and economic costs that accompany delayed treatment. Investment in …
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The renewed Women’s Health Strategy should include an aim to improve the provision of school nurses, particularly in more deprived areas, where need is often greatest. Improving early access to care reduces the risk of symptoms worsening and the increased health and economic costs that accompany delayed treatment. Investment in school nursing would likely lead to savings over the longer term and aligns with the prevention and community-based care goals in the Government’s 10-year Health Plan for England. (Recommendation, Paragraph 45) NHS website, social media and “FemTech”
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the refreshed Women’s Health Strategy will aim to improve school nurse provision, especially in deprived areas. NHS England has already committed to increasing school nurse numbers by 2030, involving investment in recruitment, training, and retention.
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Government Equalities Office
10
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
We congratulate Wellbeing of Women on developing and rolling out its period symptom checker. It is an excellent tool, which has the potential to be a major breakthrough in improving awareness and understanding of menstrual health problems and speeding up girls’ and women’s access to 70 care and treatments. We …
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We congratulate Wellbeing of Women on developing and rolling out its period symptom checker. It is an excellent tool, which has the potential to be a major breakthrough in improving awareness and understanding of menstrual health problems and speeding up girls’ and women’s access to 70 care and treatments. We welcome the Minister’s commitment to include a link to the checker on the women’s health area of the NHS website. The Government must ensure this happens as soon as possible. It is vital that girls and women can access a symptom checker that they can trust. Primary Care Networks must encourage its use. (Recommendation, Paragraph 54)
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Government response AI summary
The government will provide a link to the Wellbeing of Women period symptom checker on the NHS England website by Summer 2024, subject to governance processes. NHS England has also begun work with Wellbeing of Women to explore options for including the checker within the …
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Government Equalities Office
11
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
Wellbeing of Women’s period symptom checker should be added to the NHS app. The Government should work with Wellbeing of Women to determine whether conditions in addition to heavy bleeding and pain, such as irregular bleeding, depression and anxiety, might also be captured by the checker. (Recommendation, Paragraph 55)
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Wellbeing of Women’s period symptom checker should be added to the NHS app. The Government should work with Wellbeing of Women to determine whether conditions in addition to heavy bleeding and pain, such as irregular bleeding, depression and anxiety, might also be captured by the checker. (Recommendation, Paragraph 55)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to add Wellbeing of Women’s period symptom checker to the NHS app, with NHS England having begun work with stakeholders to explore options. DHSC will also work with Wellbeing of Women to expand the conditions captured by the checker and will provide …
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Government Equalities Office
12
Conclusion
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The Government’s use of social media to disseminate engaging and accurate information and advice for girls and younger women on menstrual health has been poor. The 2022 Women’s Health Strategy talked ambitiously about raising awareness and understanding through social media. Two YouTube videos and ad hoc information posted on Instagram …
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The Government’s use of social media to disseminate engaging and accurate information and advice for girls and younger women on menstrual health has been poor. The 2022 Women’s Health Strategy talked ambitiously about raising awareness and understanding through social media. Two YouTube videos and ad hoc information posted on Instagram fall far short of achieving that ambition. Girls and women now increasingly access health advice from social media. Much of it is inaccurate and some is potentially harmful. Tangible progress in this area is not a “nice to have” addition. It is essential. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the vital role of social media in health information dissemination and states DHSC is currently developing a social media content plan for the Women’s Health Strategy, with updates to be provided in the annual report.
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Government Equalities Office
18
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The Government should set out in the renewed Women’s Health Strategy a rigorous approach to tackling the risks from ineffective, unsafe and exploitative for-profit FemTech apps. To combat demand for these apps the Government must increase resourcing of the NHS’s Innovation, Research and Life Sciences team, to drive forward NHS …
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The Government should set out in the renewed Women’s Health Strategy a rigorous approach to tackling the risks from ineffective, unsafe and exploitative for-profit FemTech apps. To combat demand for these apps the Government must increase resourcing of the NHS’s Innovation, Research and Life Sciences team, to drive forward NHS provision of digital tools. The strategy should set out clear priorities for the development of women’s digital health functionality, which we believe should include accurate and effective period trackers, grounded in diverse data, and accessible to girls and women via the NHS app. The strategy should set out a timeline to implementation of this functionality. (Recommendation, Paragraph 78) Workforce training; empathy; pain management
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, commissioning NICE to develop FemTech evidence standards and MHRA to create a new regulatory framework for software as a medical device. DHSC and NHSE will explore opportunities to strengthen the NHS Innovation team's capacity, and the refreshed Women's Health Strategy …
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Government Equalities Office
19
Conclusion
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
Dismissal of women’s period problems and the normalisation of period-related pain in primary care is now recognised as a concern by the healthcare sector. However, there is little evidence of systemic improvement. Young women and girls are still reporting their concerns being ignored, being told they are too young get …
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Dismissal of women’s period problems and the normalisation of period-related pain in primary care is now recognised as a concern by the healthcare sector. However, there is little evidence of systemic improvement. Young women and girls are still reporting their concerns being ignored, being told they are too young get a menstrual health condition such as endometriosis and being prescribed hormonal medication to manage pain without discussion or investigation of underlying causes. We recognise the efforts of the Royal College of General Practitioners and others to improve training for GPs on menstrual health and provide better, more empathetic care for girls and women, but they are severely hampered 72 by pressures in the system. Many GPs simply do not have the time to take up “specialist” training in women’s health or the time in appointments to make a satisfactory judgement on the symptoms presented. However, the concerns raised above are not complicated to communicate across primary care. (Conclusion, Paragraph 98)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concerns regarding the dismissal of women's period problems in primary care and commits to systemic improvement. It will ensure the refreshed Women's Health Strategy annual report includes an objective with clear actions, and DHSC/NHSE will develop a comprehensive training programme for …
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Government Equalities Office
20
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy must include an objective accompanied by clear actions to improve the level of awareness among all primary care practitioners of menstrual health conditions, including that symptoms can begin at puberty. This will require targeted funding and ring- fenced time for GP training. (Recommendation, …
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The renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy must include an objective accompanied by clear actions to improve the level of awareness among all primary care practitioners of menstrual health conditions, including that symptoms can begin at puberty. This will require targeted funding and ring- fenced time for GP training. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to include an objective with clear actions in the refreshed Women’s Health Strategy annual report to improve primary care practitioners' awareness of menstrual health. DHSC and NHSE will develop a comprehensive training programme, explore funding mechanisms, and ensure practitioners have the necessary …
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Government Equalities Office
21
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
We were dismayed to learn that training modules in menstrual and gynaecological health for nurses are very limited and typically undertaken only by those who choose to “specialise” in women’s health. Nurses are at the frontline of sexual and reproductive healthcare, and they should all have a solid grounding in …
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We were dismayed to learn that training modules in menstrual and gynaecological health for nurses are very limited and typically undertaken only by those who choose to “specialise” in women’s health. Nurses are at the frontline of sexual and reproductive healthcare, and they should all have a solid grounding in menstrual and gynaecological care as standard. (Conclusion, Paragraph 100)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, agreeing that all nurses should have solid menstrual and gynaecological care training. It commits to working with the Royal College of Nursing and stakeholders to include menstrual health in standard nurse training, reviewing curricula, and developing new modules, with a …
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Government Equalities Office
22
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The Government must work with the Royal College of Nursing to ensure that menstrual health is included in the standard training offer for all nurses. The renewed Women’s Health Strategy must include this as an objective together with a clear plan and timeline for implementation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 101)
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The Government must work with the Royal College of Nursing to ensure that menstrual health is included in the standard training offer for all nurses. The renewed Women’s Health Strategy must include this as an objective together with a clear plan and timeline for implementation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 101)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to work with the Royal College of Nursing and other stakeholders to include menstrual health in standard training for all nurses. This objective, along with a clear plan and timeline, will be included in the refreshed Women’s Health Strategy annual report.
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Government Equalities Office
37
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The renewed Women’s Health Strategy must include increasing access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) as a top priority. There must be a shift across the healthcare system to view LARC as a tool for menstrual health management, not only for contraception. The current commissioning rules prevent far too many girls …
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The renewed Women’s Health Strategy must include increasing access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) as a top priority. There must be a shift across the healthcare system to view LARC as a tool for menstrual health management, not only for contraception. The current commissioning rules prevent far too many girls and women from accessing LARC for menstrual health management, including younger and older women, and women who do not have sex with men. A shift from viewing LARC only as contraception to viewing it as a tool for menstrual health management would also help reduce stigma as a barrier to access. All women whose 76 menstrual health management could benefit from LARC should be able to access it. Measures to produce this shift must be set out in the renewed Women’s Health Strategy. (Recommendation, Paragraph 143)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the refreshed Women’s Health Strategy (due early 2025) will prioritize improved access to LARC and explore integrating LARC into broader women's health services, aiming to shift its perception beyond just contraception.
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Government Equalities Office
38
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
A key success of women’s health hubs is that they have facilitated co- commissioning of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) by public authority sexual health services and NHS services. This can be an effective workaround for a dysfunctional LARC commissioning system that has been unfit for purpose since the Health and …
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A key success of women’s health hubs is that they have facilitated co- commissioning of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) by public authority sexual health services and NHS services. This can be an effective workaround for a dysfunctional LARC commissioning system that has been unfit for purpose since the Health and Social Care Act 2012 was introduced. Women’s health hubs have shown that by pooling resources as efficiently as possible, they can better meet local women’s needs for LARC for all purposes. This approach must be replicated all over the country until the necessary legislative steps can be taken to fix the dysfunctional system created by the 2012 Act. (Recommendation, Paragraph 144)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the refreshed Women’s Health Strategy (due early 2025) will focus on improved LARC access and explore ways to further integrate LARC provision into broader women’s health services, supporting expansion of women's health hubs.
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Government Equalities Office
42
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
The renewed Women’s Heath Strategy should set out ambitions for increased research into menstrual health conditions, with specific targets and actions that will incentivise funders, industry and clinical academia to prioritise this area. Such research should focus on the root causes of conditions as well as improving diagnosis and treatment. …
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The renewed Women’s Heath Strategy should set out ambitions for increased research into menstrual health conditions, with specific targets and actions that will incentivise funders, industry and clinical academia to prioritise this area. Such research should focus on the root causes of conditions as well as improving diagnosis and treatment. The strategy should also consider the potential merits of dedicated research focused on adolescent girls. The Government should consider the merits of ring- fencing funding for women’s health research as part of the strategy. (Recommendation, Paragraph 164)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to set ambitious targets and actions in the refreshed Women's Health Strategy to incentivise increased research into menstrual health conditions, including root causes and improved diagnosis and treatment. It will also explore dedicated research for adolescent girls and ringfenced …
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Government Equalities Office
43
Recommendation
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls…
Accepted
A substantial increase in research into menstrual health conditions is long overdue and would represent a huge stride forwards in recognising the impacts these conditions have on the lives of women and girls. However, as this inquiry has shown, better diagnostic tools and treatments coming on stream will not solve …
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A substantial increase in research into menstrual health conditions is long overdue and would represent a huge stride forwards in recognising the impacts these conditions have on the lives of women and girls. However, as this inquiry has shown, better diagnostic tools and treatments coming on stream will not solve all of the problems in delays to care. Wider barriers to diagnosis and treatment, particularly those faced by disabled, Deaf and racialised women, must also be tackled. (Recommendation, Paragraph 165) 78
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, acknowledging the urgent need for increased research into menstrual health conditions and existing investments of over £50 million. The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy will set ambitious targets, address wider barriers to diagnosis and treatment for specific groups, and focus on …
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Government Equalities Office