NHS is letting women down through ‘medical misogyny’, says Wes Streeting

“Medical misogyny” in the UK is letting women down, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, has admitted, as a survey showed half of female patients felt they had been dismissed or ignored because of their sex.

A report from Mumsnet, which examined data taken from the site over the past decade, warned of “structural and deeply embedded” sexism in UK healthcare. A survey of women using the site found that more than half believed the NHS was institutionally misogynistic.

The survey also found that:

• 50% of women believe they have been dismissed, ignored or not believed by an NHS professional because of their sex.
• 64% say they have been explicitly told their pain or symptoms were “normal” or “in their head”.
• 68% think the NHS does not take women’s health concerns seriously.

Ahead of the publication of a women’s health strategy, which was announced in 2022 and is expected imminently, Streeting said the report showed that the NHS had let women down too often and for “far too long”. The health secretary said he was “driving change” through more funding, menopause support, moving health services into the community and the introduction of Martha’s rule, which gives patients a right to an urgent second opinion.

He added: “Medical misogyny has no place within our NHS. It was founded on the principles of equality, yet time and time again, women are ignored and not believed. I want women across the country to know we’re going to tackle this.”

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Source: The Guardian, 8 March 2026

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