The government has announced a new package of measures to boost the health and wellbeing of women and girls on the one year anniversary of the launch of the Women's Health Strategy.
The government has announced the launch of a women's health area on the NHS website. The area brings together over 100 topics on women's health, including periods, gynaecological conditions, fertility, pregnancy, heart health and cancers. There is also a new hormone replacement therapy (HRT) hub on the site.
The government has also announced the development of a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool to identify early risks in maternity units.
£25 million will be distributed across England for every areas to create a women’s health hub, with each integrated care board (ICB) set to receive £595,000.
A new tool on gov.uk will provide greater transparency on IVF and enable people to look up information about NHS-funded IVF treatment in their area.
The Women’s Health Ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan, has also formed a new network of women’s health champions - made up of senior leadership in every local care system and co-chaired with NHS England - who will use their leadership and experience to drive forward wider work to improve women’s health.
Professor Dame Lesley Regan, women’s health ambassador said: "A huge amount has been achieved in the strategy’s first year - from developing tools, identifying funding, piloting local health hubs, prioritising information on the NHS website and improving access to HRT - together we are making a real difference to the lives of so many women.
"This is just the beginning, and every conversation about women’s health is a step towards closing the gender health gap.
"The enthusiasm of all those involved makes it clear that everyone wants to get this right for women and girls, and I look forward to continuing to drive this forward in the coming years."
Minister for women’s health Maria Caulfield said: "A year on from the launch of our women’s health strategy, we have much progress to celebrate. Over 300,000 more women have accessed cheaper HRT, new women’s health hubs are popping up across the country and we’re adding a dedicated women’s health area to the NHS website. But there is plenty more to do.
"Our work continues to support women through the agony of pregnancy loss. I’d like to thank all the brave and inspiring women who have campaigned tirelessly for change as well as the review leads Zoe Clark-Coates and Samantha Collinge, who carried out this really important review.
"We will keep working and investing so girls and women across the country can benefit from the world-class healthcare they deserve."
Image by lisa runnels from Pixabay
