Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 44
44
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 162
Ensure women's health hubs meet specific demographic needs, accounting for religious and cultural considerations.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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 inequalities.
Paragraph Reference:
162
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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.