‘I’m not being listened to’ – new health plan launched as women say they are still ignored
‘I’m not being listened to’ – new health plan launched as women say they are still ignored
Four years after the Conservative government introduced a women’s health strategy in England, the Labour administration has unveiled an updated version. The plan aims to address persistent gaps in care, yet many women, like Zoe Trafford, argue their struggles continue to be overlooked.
Zoe’s Long Fight for Recognition
Zoe Trafford, a hairdresser from Liverpool, often found herself acting as a confidante for her clients. But the roles shifted when she began sharing her own battles with endometriosis—a condition that has plagued her since adolescence. For years, her symptoms were dismissed as “just bad periods,” despite the severe pain and heavy bleeding she endured.
“You’ll be alright, it’s just normal,” she said doctors would tell her. “But it’s not normal – I don’t think being in pain is normal.”
Her situation took a drastic turn after major surgery, during which her womb and part of her bowel were removed. Now reliant on a catheter for bladder drainage, Zoe still feels her concerns are not adequately addressed. “I’m not being listened to. Basically, I’ve had the surgery but I’m having more and more complications,” she explains.
Systemic Failures and Rising Wait Times
The updated strategy highlights a growing crisis in gynaecological care, with waiting lists doubling between February 2020 and January 2026—reaching over 565,000 patients. This surge has outpaced increases in other treatment areas, which rose by 58%. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the NHS’s shortcomings, stating that women are often treated as “second class citizens” with their pain seen as “an inconvenience” and symptoms as “overreactions.”
“It’s clear the system is failing women,” he says.
New Initiatives to Empower Patients
The government has introduced several measures to tackle these issues. A “patient power payment” scheme will allow women to provide feedback on their care experiences, with resources directed to areas needing improvement. Clinicians receiving poor reviews could face funding cuts. Additionally, a streamlined referral process and standardized pain management protocols for gynaecological procedures are set to be implemented.
Voices of Concern
Despite these promises, experts caution that progress remains uneven. Dr. Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, praised the strategy but noted the “deeply concerning” state of women’s health 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,” she added.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society raised further questions, pointing out the absence of a national plan for specialist services for osteoporosis—a condition affecting half of women over 50. Dr. Sarah Jarvis, a GP and society ambassador, warned that without action, “around 2,000 lives are at stake every year.” Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, called for a “clear roadmap for delivery,” emphasizing that diagnosis delays of more than nine years are “totally unacceptable.”
Regional Progress and Ongoing Challenges
Meanwhile, Scotland has advanced its own women’s health agenda, launching the second phase of its plan in 2024. The initiative focuses on transforming services to ensure timely access to care. Wales, too, has introduced a women’s health strategy to “close the gender health gap by proactively addressing disparities.”