The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes the Government's response to the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) report on girls' and young women's reproductive health, while urging that ambition be matched by meaningful investment and delivery.
The WEC report painted a stark but unsurprising picture of the reality facing girls and young women with menstrual health issues in this country, with too many left to endure pain and discomfort that affects their quality of life and ability to work or attend school.
The RCOG was pleased to support the inquiry and report development, providing written and in-person evidence from our Chief Executive. A number of the RCOG's longstanding priorities are reflected within the Government's response, including:
- The prioritisation of reducing gynaecology waiting lists, given over 550,000 women and girls still waiting for gynaecological care
- The commitment that the DHSC will establish a dedicated National Priority Programme Director whose portfolio will include women's health and maternity
- A commitment to convene DHSC officials, Wellbeing of Women and Royal Colleges to discuss menstrual health education in schools
- A commitment to provide an update on the manifesto pledge to set an explicit target to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap - something the RCOG has long called for
The shift to community-based care is one of the most significant opportunities to transform how women access healthcare - reducing pressure on hospitals and getting women the right care sooner. The RCOG welcomes NHS England committing to publish a good practice guide to implementing neighbourhood working in women's health, drawing on the lessons from the women's health hubs pilot programme. This guide is an important step in embedding that learning across the system.
However, the College share the Committee's concern that women and girls will be overlooked - and the opportunity missed to address the issues identified by the inquiry missed - without central direction on how explicitly embedding women's health within the emerging neighbourhood health framework. We are also concerned financial challenge faced by Integrated Care Boards will limit tangible progress on delivering this ‘left shift’ to neighbourhood care in the next two years. Without protected, sustainable investment, the ambitions set out in the Women's Health Strategy cannot be delivered.
Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
"We are really pleased to see the Government showing commitment to improving girls' and young women's reproductive health, and to see many of the RCOG's priorities reflected in this response.
"It is now crucial that these recommendations are backed by action and resource. We are increasingly concerned about the financial strain at ICB level and what that means for the delivery of women's health services on the ground. Our workforce is also under enormous pressure - O&G doctors are routinely working beyond contracted hours and cannot keep absorbing ever-greater demand.
"We agree with the Committee's calls for increased funding, and we are calling on the Government to ensure that the action taken in response to this important inquiry is backed by sustained investment, clear delivery plans and transparent progress reporting. This includes ensuring that the upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan puts in place long-term measures to guarantee the sustainability of the women's healthcare workforce."ENDS