Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Women's Health on 20 July, what evidence they have to support the claim that that there is a “gender health gap” adversely affecting women and the Government needs to “ensure women receive the same standards of care as men”, given that men die younger than women and are more likely to die from heart disease, suicide, COVID and diabetes.

The Women’s Health Strategy for England found that although on average women in the United Kingdom live longer than men, women spend a quarter of their lives in ill-health and disability compared to approximately one fifth of men. Disability-free life expectancy has reduced at almost twice the rate for women in England compared to men. A copy of the Women’s Health Strategy for England is attached.

The call for evidence which informed the Women’s Health Strategy received approximately 100,000 responses from individuals and over 400 written responses from organisations with expertise in women’s health. The Results of the ‘Women’s Health – Let's talk about it’ survey found that women have been under-represented in research studies, including clinical trials, therefore there is less understanding of how general health conditions and disabilities such as cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions can affect women and men differently. Respondents also reported that there is insufficient understanding of conditions which solely impact women, such as endometriosis or the menopause. A copy of the Results of the ‘women’s health – let's talk about it survey is attached.

The responses received to the call for evidence from organisations and experts in women’s healthcare also highlighted the need for improved education and training in women’s health conditions for healthcare professionals. Respondents also reported a lack of awareness of women’s health issues among some healthcare professionals, including the causes of infertility and treatment for gynaecological conditions. A copy of the Results of the of the written evidence submitted by organisations and experts is attached.