Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Deferred
Paragraph: 110
Incentivise workplaces to adopt strategies supporting women with reproductive ill health, including flexible working
Conclusion
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 women at work. While some employers have recognised the benefits of policies such as paid leave for fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, menopause symptoms, and menstruation-related issues, there is not consistency across employers and sectors. The Employment Rights Bill is a good opportunity to address these concerns.
Government Response Summary
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 for reproductive ill health, or the Employment Rights Bill.
Paragraph Reference:
110
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We agree that women’s health hubs must be tailored to the needs of local populations. For that reason, improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities are key aims of women’s health hubs, as set out in the core specification (linked in the government response to ‘Recommendation 3’ in ‘Public understanding of reproductive health conditions’ above). To support ICBs in this, NHS England is developing an equity framework for ICBs to support reduction in inequalities in access and outcomes, with an initial focus on menopause and heavy menstrual bleeding. Women’s health hubs are likely to play a significant role in the implementation of the framework. More broadly, the National Health Service Act 2006 requires ICBs to reduce inequalities between people in both their access to health services and their health outcomes, and ICBs are subject to the public sector equality duty , which requires that due regard be given to the 8 protected characteristics. NHS England’s National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme is underpinned by 5 strategic priorities for system action on health inequalities. The framework for action and delivery is through the Core20PLUS5 approach for adults and children and young people . The approach defines a target population cohort and identifies 5 clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement.