The government’s renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, launched on 15 April, is both a statement of intent and a test of delivery. Women’s voices are promised a central role in shaping policy, building on the original strategy’s emphasis on lived experience and long standing inequalities in care. For a sector that has heard strong rhetoric before, the question is whether this refresh finally unlocks implementation at scale.
The strategy takes a more system wide view of women’s health, spanning reproductive health and maternity through to menopause and later life. It also signals a desire to embed women’s health more consistently across the NHS, rather than treating it as a collection of disconnected services. Integrated Care Boards are given a clearer role in shaping provision, with greater emphasis on data, accountability and outcomes.
Commenting on the renewed strategy, Women’s Health Ambassador, Dame Lesley Regan said: “It is an opportunity to embed the voices of girls and women at the heart of the design and delivery of their healthcare, by including the conditions unique to women, those that affect them disproportionately and the conditions that present differently.”
Where the strategy begins to feel more tangible is in its focus on gynaecology. More than half a million women are currently waiting for gynaecological care in England, with conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids too often diagnosed late or managed through fragmented pathways. The renewed strategy commits to streamlining gynaecology services to cut waiting lists and ensure faster access, addressing one of the most persistent pressure points in women’s healthcare.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS England’s clinical director for women’s health, explains 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.”
The shift to community care presents an opportunity to embed Women’s Health Hubs within the neighbourhood model. However, their limited visibility in the renewed strategy, alongside the lack of detail in the Neighbourhood Health Framework, risks a missed opportunity to scale proven, women centred services without protected funding or clear accountability.
There is also a notable, if modest, push on innovation. A new £1.5 million Femtech Challenge Fund aims to accelerate the adoption of technologies that could transform women’s healthcare, helping promising solutions move beyond pilots into real world use. For healthtech and femtech companies, this is an important signal: innovation is being recognised not just as an enabler, but as part of the solution to workforce constraints, long waits and inconsistent care.
The strategy sets out a wider package of reforms, including:
- Redesigning clinical pathways for heavy menstrual bleeding, urogynaecology and menopause, with the aim of speeding up diagnosis and treatment.
- Funding a specialist women’s health centre in each region, introducing group based approaches that support self management while easing pressure on clinicians.
- Launching a £1 million programme to improve menstrual education, so girls are better equipped to recognise unhealthy periods earlier.
- Establishing a Women’s Voices Partnership, bringing together organisations representing women to inform future policy and decision making.
- Improving access to contraception and abortion care, with continued support for protected spaces.
- Reviewing support for families experiencing recurrent baby loss, updating guidance to better reflect differing levels of need.
Professional bodies have welcomed the direction of travel but are clear eyed about the risks.
Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy marks an important renewal of the government’s commitment to delivering an NHS that works for women.
“We welcome the inclusion of many priorities the RCOG has long been calling for, including tackling the gynaecology waiting list crisis, raising menstrual health awareness, and supporting sustainable abortion services.
“With over 565,000 women still waiting for gynaecological care, there is a clear opportunity to embed women’s health hubs within the neighbourhood health model.
“For the strategy to achieve its full potential, it is vital that it is backed by sustained investment, clear delivery plans, and transparent progress reporting. We stand ready to work together with government to ensure this strategy is a success.”
Dr Zara Haider, president of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said: “For far too long, women’s health needs have been placed at the bottom of the list, so it’s good to see this government is finally working to address this. We’re really pleased to see women’s sexual and reproductive health placed firmly at the centre of this renewed strategy, with plans to expand access to the most effective forms of contraception. We are also encouraged to see that the government has listened to our recent campaign about pain during coil fittings and is working to address this.
“Making services accessible and recognising the needs of patients is another welcome addition. If Neighbourhood Health Centres, which aim to offer a single, convenient point of access for women’s health, can replicate the success demonstrated by Women’s Health Hubs, this would be a major step forward.”
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