Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Results of the Women’s Health, let’s talk about it survey and the Women's Health Strategy for England, published on 20 July 2022, what steps he plans to take as part of that strategy to ensure that women feel they are listened to by their doctors.

The Women’s Health Strategy for England set out the ambition for women feel better listened to by healthcare professionals and ensure that concerns are taken seriously.

Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, we have commissioned primary research into healthcare professionals’ perspectives of listening to women in primary care, with a focus on menstrual and gynaecological symptoms. This follows an initial evidence review which identified very few studies relevant to this topic.

The Women’s Health Strategy also states that we will work with the newly appointed Women’s Health Ambassador and other organisations to consider actions to improve women and girls’ experiences of services. In addition, the Ambassador will engage with healthcare professionals to understand their perspectives.