Women’s Health Strategy revamp transforms NHS care for millions

A sweeping overhaul of England’s Women’s Health Strategy promises to reshape how millions of women access and experience healthcare, with a clear shift toward faster diagnosis, better pain management, and stronger accountability across the NHS.

At the centre of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy is a commitment to listen to women more effectively and act on what they say. For years, patients have reported feeling dismissed or overlooked, particularly when seeking help for complex or chronic conditions.

Under the new plans, feedback from women will play a more direct role in shaping services. A proposed pilot will even explore linking patient feedback to NHS provider funding, a move designed to ensure healthcare organisations are held accountable for the quality of care they deliver.

This marks a structural change in how performance is measured, with patient experience becoming a measurable driver of improvement rather than a secondary consideration.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the significance of the updated strategy: “We inherited a broken NHS, which was particularly felt by women, who have for so long been let down by a healthcare system that too often gaslights women, treating their pain as an inconvenience and their symptoms as an overreaction.

“Whether it’s being passed from one appointment to another for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, or a lack of proper pain relief during invasive procedures, or having to navigate symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis, it’s clear the system is failing women.

“Women’s voices must be central to delivering effective, respectful and empathetic care. We need to hit medical misogyny where it hurts – the wallet. This renewed strategy will tackle the issues women face every day and ensure no woman is left fighting to be heard.”

Faster diagnosis and streamlined referrals

One of the most significant changes in the Women’s Health Strategy is the introduction of a single point of referral. This aims to ensure women are directed to the right specialist at the first attempt, reducing delays caused by fragmented care pathways.

The reform is particularly relevant for conditions such as endometriosis, which currently takes an average of nearly ten years to diagnose in the UK.

By integrating local services with digital platforms like NHS Online, the system is expected to cut waiting times and reduce repeated appointments.

Emma Cox, Chief Executive of Endometriosis UK, commented: “The renewed Women’s Health Strategy comes at a time when it is desperately needed.

“Diagnosis times for endometriosis are going up, not down, and it’s now taking an average of 9 years 4 months – rising to 11 years for diverse ethnic communities – which is totally unacceptable. Leadership and decisive actions will be vital to drive these times down.

“Endometriosis UK welcomes the commitments in the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, which we have long been calling for, including streamlining gynaecology care and cutting waiting lists to ensure faster access for conditions like endometriosis, improving menstrual health education in schools and ensuring women’s voices are involved in future policy making.”

In parallel, new community diagnostic centres will expand access to essential tests, such as MRIs and blood tests, helping to close the gap between the initial consultation and a confirmed diagnosis.

Addressing pain management gaps

The Women’s Health Strategy also tackles a long-standing issue: inadequate pain relief during gynaecological procedures. A new national standard of care will be introduced to ensure women undergoing procedures such as hysteroscopies or contraceptive fittings are offered appropriate and effective pain management.

This change responds to widespread criticism that women’s pain has historically been underestimated or dismissed in clinical settings. Establishing consistent guidelines across the NHS is expected to improve both patient outcomes and trust in services.

Investment and measurable progress

The reforms are backed by a £26bn funding package for the NHS, enabling broader system changes under the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.

Early signs of progress are already visible. Gynaecology waiting lists have fallen by more than 30,000 cases since mid-2024, reflecting increased capacity and targeted investment in women’s services.

Digital transformation is also playing a role. NHS Online will provide tailored support for menstrual and menopausal health, offering accessible guidance without the need for immediate in-person appointments.

Broader reforms across women’s healthcare

Beyond clinical improvements, the Women’s Health Strategy introduces a series of targeted initiatives:

• Redesigned care pathways for menopause, heavy menstrual bleeding, and urogynaecological conditions
• Specialist regional centres offering group-based care models
• A £1m programme to improve menstrual education among young people
• A £1.5m fund to accelerate innovation in women’s health technology
• The creation of a “women’s voices partnership” to inform future policy

There are also commitments to improve access to contraception and abortion services, alongside a review of support for families experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss.

Research and prevention in focus

Research funding will be channelled through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), targeting areas where women’s health has historically been underfunded.

This includes studies into severe period pain and the development of new technologies to treat complications such as threatened miscarriage.

Importantly, updated research standards will ensure sex and gender differences are consistently accounted for in clinical studies.

Preventative care is also being expanded. From this year, NHS Health Checks for adults aged 40 to 74 will include questions about menopause symptoms, potentially benefiting up to five million women by enabling earlier intervention.

Dr Sue Mann, NHS England’s clinical director for women’s health, added: “We have come a long way in the last decade, with women’s health being talked about more, but there are still parts of society and the health system that are trapped in outdated thinking.

“Too many women are still dismissed for serious symptoms that impact every part of their lives, whether that’s menstrual pain, irregular periods, or hot flushes and brain fog that affect many women experiencing the menopause.

“The renewed Women’s Health Strategy will build significantly on the work the NHS has been doing to ensure women are heard and get the specialist care they need – with a focus on bringing down waiting times, delivering more care in communities and giving women more choice over their care.”

A system under pressure to deliver

Taken together, the reforms signal a more coordinated and patient-centred approach to healthcare.

The success of the Women’s Health Strategy, however, will depend on how effectively these commitments are implemented at scale.

For many women, the real test will be whether the promised changes translate into shorter waits, better care experiences, and a system that finally takes their concerns seriously.