In this blog Dr Ranee Thakar, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) shares why women’s health needs to be a priority at this election.
Women make up 51% of the population, yet women’s health has historically been left behind. Investment in services has been inadequate and fragmented, alongside a persistently low level of investment in research on women’s health and responses to treatment. As political parties publish their manifestos and set out what they will do to improve health services, we encourage them to set out an ambitious vision for women’s health throughout the life course.
The publication of the ten-year Women’s Health Strategy and appointment of a Women’s Health Ambassador were important steps in women’s health being taken seriously, alongside the very welcome appointment of a Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy. The Strategy set out key areas of focus to make a real difference to women’s health and we urge the parties to include a commitment in their manifesto to fully implementing the Strategy if elected.
At a time when all political parties are keen to run health services more efficiently and enable patients to get access to the care they need more quickly and easily, women’s health hubs are a key solution. The RCOG has welcomed the funding allocated for their creation in all Integrated Care Systems in England. We believe they have the potential to ensure women are seen in the right setting, by the right professional, at the right time, through better integration of women’s health services across primary, secondary and sexual and reproductive health care. They are a no-brainer, and the next UK Government would be wise to ensure their success.
Related to this is the fact that we know that women are waiting longer than ever for their care, with RCOG analysis showing that gynaecology waiting lists have doubled in England since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women are experiencing crippling pain, excessive bleeding and worsening mental health, while being forced to wait for long periods of time for help and being deprioritised on surgical lists.
Tackling gynaecological waiting lists is not just a health issue. All parties are keen to set out how they plan to grow the economy, get people back into work, and reduce the mental health crisis. Setting out a clear plan to reduce these waiting lists will support that wider cross-government work.
One other major area of healthcare that needs significant government focus and commitment is maternity. A woman gives birth every 54 seconds in the NHS, and every single one deserves to receive high-quality, personalised and safe maternity care, which supports their physical and mental health during and after pregnancy.
Racial and ethnic health inequalities persist in many areas of women’s healthcare: in pregnancy, women from Black ethnic backgrounds are three times more likely to die during or shortly after pregnancy compared to white women. We are calling on all political parties to commit to a fully-funded, time-limited target to end the higher risk of maternal mortality among Black, Asian and ethnic minority women, and for women living in more deprived areas.
Finally, supporting reproductive healthcare and choice is an essential element of women’s healthcare. We know that one in three women will have an abortion at some point in their lives, and yet abortion is still illegal under the 1861 Offences against the Person Act. It’s unconscionable that in 2024 women are still being arrested, investigated and sent to prison for accessing abortion care.
The 1967 Abortion Act allows women to access legal abortion services, but it needs updating to reflect modern day medical practice. We have joined with others in the sector to outline a vision for reforming the UK’s outdated abortion laws, and call on political parties to commit to parliamentary time for the decriminalisation of abortion.
While there will be many motivations for how people decide to vote in this election, health has consistently been at the top of voter’s priorities, and political parties will do well to set out a vision for how they plan to improve the specific health needs of 51% of the population. The RCOG’s five key priorities would be a good place to start.