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  1. News Article
    Mesh implants returned to the national spotlight as Sling the Mesh campaigners appeared on Good Morning Britain to highlight the devastating impact of surgical mesh procedures—and the urgent need for compensation and systemic reform. Campaign founder Kath Sansom was joined by Sharron Mahoney – who suffered severe autoimmune complications and chronic pain following rectopexy mesh surgery. Remarkably, Sharron’s symptoms began to clear within days of mesh removal -powerfully underscoring the direct link between these devices and the serious harm they can cause. Sharron’s story highlights the critical work of researchers such as Nicholas Farr from Sheffield University who recently published this study showing the plastic particles of surgical mesh can trigger autoimmune diseases – even after removal. Watch interview
  2. Content Article
    More information about "Top picks: 9 resources about improving access to cervical screening"
    NHS England has set a target that cervical cancer will be eliminated in England by 2040. Although progress has been made in detecting and treating cervical cancer, there are still many women who are reluctant to go for cervical screening, or who face barriers to accessing screening. These barriers include perceived discrimination, lack of understanding the risk of cervical cancer and unmet access needs. This contributes to persistent health inequalities amongst particular groups. Patient Safety Learning has pulled together nine useful resources shared on the hub about how to improve access and overcome barriers to cervical screening. 1. Cervical screening, my way: Women's attitudes and solutions to improve uptake of cervical screening This research by Healthwatch explored why some women are hesitant to go for cervical screening. Based on the findings of a survey of more than 2,400 women who were hesitant about screening, it makes recommendations to policymakers on how to improve uptake, including: improvements to the way data about the disability and ethnicity of people attending screening. producing an NHS-branded trauma card for affected women to bring to appointments. ensuring staff are effectively trained on accessibility and adjustments to care. looking at the possibility of home-based self-screening. 2. Exploring the inequalities of women with learning disabilities deciding to attend and then accessing cervical and breast cancer screening, using the Social Ecological Model Women with learning disabilities are less likely to access cervical and breast cancer screening when compared to the general population. In this study, the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was used to examine the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities in accessing cervical and breast cancer screening in England. The study highlights key barriers to access for women with learning disabilities. 3. “We’re not taken seriously”: Describing the experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women Black women continue to experience disparities in cervical cancer despite targeted efforts. One potential factor affecting screening and prevention is discrimination in medical settings. This US study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities describes experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women and explores the impact of this on cervical cancer screening and prevention. The authors suggest that future interventions should address the poor quality of medical encounters that Black women experience. 4. Top tips for healthcare professionals: Cervical screenings This article by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and the My Body Back Project offers tips for healthcare professionals to make cervical cancer screening attendees feel as comfortable as possible during their appointments. Cervical screening can be very daunting for some women, and for those who have experienced sexual violence it can be triggering and cause emotional distress. The article provides tips on communication, making the environment calm and safe, sharing control and building trust with women. 5. The Eve Appeal: What adjustments can you ask for at your cervical screening? The Eve Appeal want to raise awareness of what adaptations women and people with a cervix can ask for during their screening to make the appointment more comfortable. 6. How can reframing women’s health improve outcomes? An interview with Dr Marieke Bigg Dr Marieke Bigg is the author of a 2023 book, This won’t hurt: How medicine fails women. In this interview, Marieke discusses how societal ideas about the female body have restricted the healthcare system’s approach to women’s health and describes the impact this has had on health outcomes. She also highlights areas where the health system is reframing its approach by listening to the needs of women and describes how simple changes, such as allowing women to carry out their own cervical screening at home, can make a big difference. 7. Having a smear test. What is it about? This download A4 Easy Read booklet from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust uses simple language and pictures to talk about smear tests. It explains what a smear test is, has tips for the person having the test and has a list of words they might hear at their appointment. 8. Health Improvement Scotland: Cervical screening standards Published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland in March, the new cervical screening standards include recommendations to ensure women receive accessible letters and information about screening and healthcare professionals are trained to support women to make informed choices. 9. Cervical cancer screening in women with physical disabilities This US study explored how the cervical cancer screening experiences of women with physical disabilities (WWPD) can be improved. Interviews with WWPD indicated that access to self-sampling options would be more comfortable for cervical cancer screening participation. The authors highlight that these findings that can inform the promotion of self-sampling devices for cervical cancer screening. Have your say Are you a healthcare professional who works in women’s health or cancer services? We would love to hear your insights and share resources you have developed. Perhaps you have an experience of cervical screening or cervical cancer that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register as a hub member for free first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights
  3. Content Article
    Despite comprising half of the global population, women’s health issues are underreported, underrepresented, and underprioritised. Women's health research receives a disproportionate share of funding. Contrary to popular belief, obstetrics and gynaecology alone do not encompass women’s comprehensive health needs. Women’s health encompasses all aspects of health care and research. In this video, experts from various fields—health-care professionals and researchers, charity founders, and Lancet Editors—examine the disparities, frequently exacerbated by intersectionality, that impact women globally.
  4. News Article
    Women who tracked their menstrual cycle using smartphone apps have been warned about the privacy and safety risks of doing so. A report from the University of Cambridge's Minderoo Centre said the apps were a "gold mine" for consumer profiling and collecting information. Academics cautioned that in the wrong hands, the data could result in health insurance "discrimination" and risks to job prospects. The apps collect information on everything from exercise, diet and medication to sexual preferences, hormone levels and contraception use. Academics at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, an independent team of researchers at the university, said this data could give insights into people's health and their reproductive choices. The report added that many women used the apps when they were trying to get pregnant. Researchers said data on who is pregnant, and who wants to be, was some of the "most sought-after information in digital advertising" as it led to a shift in shopping patterns. "Cycle tracking apps (CTA) are a lucrative business because they provide the companies behind the apps with access to extremely valuable and fine-grained user data," they said. "CTA data is not only commercially valuable and shared with an inextricable net of third parties (thereby making intimate user information exploitable for targeted advertising), but it also poses severe security risks for users." Read full story Source: BBC News, 11 June 2025
  5. News Article
    Women would no longer be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in England and Wales under a proposed shake-up of abortion laws. MPs are set to get a free vote next week - meaning they will not be told how to vote by their party - on a change to the law. It comes amid concern more women are being investigated by police on suspicion of illegally ending a pregnancy. Abortion is illegal in England and Wales, most often prosecuted under a piece of Victorian legislation, the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861. But it is allowed up to 24 weeks and in certain other circumstances under the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act. This requires two doctors to sign it off and even before 24 weeks can require a woman to testify that her mental or physical health is at risk. An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, tabled by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, aims to decriminalise abortion at any stage by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy, ending the threat of investigation or imprisonment. The framework by which abortion is accessed would remain the same. But abortions would only need to be signed off by two doctors - as the law currently demands - if the procedure takes place in a hospital or other healthcare setting. Time limits would also still apply in healthcare settings. "The police cannot be trusted with abortion law – nor can the CPS or the wider criminal justice system," Antoniazzi said. "My amendment to the crime and policing bill will give us the urgent change we need to protect women." Read full story Source: BBC News, 20 June 2025
  6. Content Article
    In the US, women die at a greater rate in pregnancy and during the postpartum period than in any other high-income country, and this rate has been increasing. Even if some of the apparent increase is attributable to changes in reporting, the fact remains that in the US, mortality rates are rising rather than falling, while disparities are widening.1Yet despite recent efforts to prioritise women’s health research, pregnancy research remains woefully underfunded. Much of the existing funding for pregnancy research focuses not on the health of pregnant individuals themselves; rather, they are considered hosts whose social, intrinsic biological, and environmental determinants affect fetal and child development: an important perspective, but not the only one. A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine noted that National Institutes of Health (NIH) spending on women’s health research in the past decade has averaged only 8.8% of its total budget, of which only a fraction went to study pregnancy. Despite progress in the form of new initiatives—such as the NIH Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative—funding for research regarding preconception, pregnant, and postpartum individuals remains a small proportion of the NIH portfolio.
  7. Content Article
    In this video, Dr Gail Busby and Dr Andrew Heck discuss the option of sedation for hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy involves inserting a narrow telescope into the womb (uterus) to see inside. There are several options for pain relief for this procedure. Dr Heck touches on all of the options and discusses sedation in detail. Further reading on the hub: Painful hysteroscopy discussion thread Through the hysteroscope: Reflections of a gynaecologist
  8. News Article
    Microscopic particles left behind by vaginal mesh could continue to trigger the immune system to attack healthy tissue even after the material has been removed, according to researchers. Experts suggest allergy testing patients before they are fitted with mesh may help to better understand why complications happen in some cases. Campaign group Sling the Mesh said the majority of its members have developed a reaction they believe is down to the material, including autoimmune diseases, unexplained rashes and chronic fatigue. Transvaginal mesh (TVM) implants are made from synthetic materials such as polypropylene, a type of thermoplastic, and have been used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence after childbirth. However, they can cause serious harm to some women, with side effects including infection, pelvic pain, and incontinence. The NHS restricted its use of TVM implants in 2018 and they are now used only as a last resort through a high-vigilance programme of restricted practice. A new article led by Dr Nicholas Farr, published in the journal Nature Reviews Urology, analysed studies which suggest polypropylene is a material which causes autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (Asia). Asia arises following exposure to substances that enhance the immune response in the likes of vaccines, silicone implants, or other foreign materials. Symptoms can vary widely, but include chronic fatigue and chronic pain. Read full story Source: The Independent, 6 June 2025 Related reading on the hub: Read a blog Dr Nicholas Farr wrote for the hub on medical device safety
  9. Content Article
    Evidence of polypropylene mesh degradation has revealed particle accumulation in surrounding tissues, raising concerns about potential local and systemic immune responses. Associations between polypropylene degradation and autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants-like symptoms have been made, and vigilant clinical assessment is important, especially in patients with a predisposition for allergy or autoimmune diseases. Related reading on the hub: Read a blog author Dr Nicholas Farr wrote for the hub on medical device safety
  10. News Article
    Women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and those living in the most deprived areas of England are less likely to receive treatment after a diagnosis of a deadly heart disease, according to one of the largest studies of its kind. Researchers at the University of Leicester analysed data from almost 155,000 people diagnosed with aortic stenosis – a narrowing of the valve between the heart’s main pumping chamber and the main artery – between 2000 and 2022 across England, from a database of anonymised GP records. The study found that patients living in the most deprived areas were 7% less likely to be referred for secondary care after their diagnosis compared with patients in the least deprived areas, and 4% less likely to undergo a procedure to replace their aortic valve. The analysis, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester, also found that women were 11% less likely to be referred to secondary care, such as a hospital specialist, after their diagnosis than men. Women were also 39% less likely to have a procedure to replace their aortic valve. The study also found that black patients were 48% less likely to undergo a procedure to replace their aortic valve than white patients, with south Asian patients being 27% less likely. Both groups were more likely to be referred to secondary care, although the researchers say that this could reflect referrals for other heart issues not related to their aortic stenosis. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 5 June 2025
  11. Content Article
    This report from the National Federation of Women’s Institutes looks at the ways in which the UK dentistry crisis disproportionately affects women, based on a survey that obtained over 960 responses. The central theme of the report is that dental health is a feminist issue. This is partly a matter of biology: for example, in pregnant women, hormonal changes can lead to gingivitis – an inflammation of the gums. It is also because women take a disproportionate amount of the caring responsibility for children and ageing parents. The report states that with NHS dental appointments becoming harder to obtain, women are bearing financial, temporal, physical, and mental health burdens for not only themselves but also their loved ones.  Pregnant women and children are entitled to free NHS dental healthcare. But survey respondents reported being unable to find a dentist taking NHS patients to treat them. So some women are turning to private dentistry but are then finding that they are required to pay high bills. The report makes the point that the lack of available NHS dental healthcare, and the financial burden of private dental care, forces women to choose between their own health and the well-being of their families, further exacerbating inequalities in access to dental healthcare.
  12. News Article
    Women using weight-loss jabs have been warned by the UK's medicines regulator that they must use effective contraception. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says it is not known whether taking the medicines, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, could harm an unborn baby. It also warns that weight-loss jabs may make the contraceptive pill less likely to work in those who are overweight or obese. There are concerns that the growing popularity of 'skinny jabs' means many women aren't using the drugs safely or getting the right advice. It's thought the contraceptive pill may not be absorbed properly due to common side-effects of the jabs such as vomiting and diarrhoea, and because they slow the emptying of the stomach. The MHRA says women should use contraception while taking GLP-1 medicines and for a certain period afterwards before trying to become pregnant - two months for Wegovy and Ozempic, and one month for Mounjaro. It also advises that those using Mounjaro and taking an oral contraceptive should also use a condom for four weeks after starting the drug, or switch to another method such as the coil or implant. Advice on contraception already appears in patient information leaflets that come with the medicines, but the MHRA has now issued its own guidance. Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 June 2025
  13. Content Article
    More information about "10 Years of Sling The Mesh – a decade of grassroots power, perseverance and progress (1 June 2025)"
    In 2015, few people had even heard of pelvic mesh implants, let alone the devastating complications they could cause. Women were told their pain was “normal,” their concerns dismissed, their injuries hidden behind a wall of medical gaslighting. But what began as a small group of women raising their voices against an invisible epidemic turned into one of the UK’s most powerful grassroots campaigns for patient safety and medical justice. As Sling The Mesh marks its 10th anniversary, it celebrates a decade of courage, compassion, and relentless campaigning that has changed lives – and policy – forever. Over the next decade, Sling The Mesh will: Demand proper aftercare and support for all mesh-injured patients. Push for accountability from manufacturers and regulators. Campaign for awareness around hernia and other less-recognised mesh complications. Advocate for safer alternatives and patient-centred decision-making. Empower the next generation of campaigners to keep raising their voices. Push for tougher regulations and oversight of medical devices. Lobby for Sunshine legislation for transparency around funding from industry to the healthcare sector which can bias prescribing and affect research integrity.
  14. Content Article
    The annual Cancer in the UK report summarises key data across the cancer pathway, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. It looks at where progress is being made and what challenges remain in the UK. Evidence in this report shows that improvements can be made across the cancer pathway – preventing cancers, diagnosing patients earlier and ensuring patients have access to the best treatment options – to attain outcomes that are among the best in the world. The report concludes by setting out the priority actions that are vital to addressing challenges faced by cancer services and lays out how data-led insights can strengthen our ability to beat cancer
  15. News Article
    Boston Scientific Corp. will have to pay a total of $26.7 million in damages to four women in a court ruling related to its vaginal mesh product. Following a federal court trial in Miami, jurors found that the company’s Pinnacle pelvic floor replacement kit had a faulty design and the company failed to effectively warn patients and doctors about the possible risks associated with the device. Pelvic organ implants are used to treat female patients experiencing major discomfort due to pelvic organ prolapse. This was the first federal trial related to Pinnacle. Others lawsuits are pending. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when a pelvic organ—such as the bladder—drops (prolapses) from its normal place and pushes against the walls of the vagina. This can happen when the muscles that hold pelvic organs in place are weakened or stretched from childbirth or surgery. Many women will have some kind of pelvic organ prolapse. It can be uncomfortable or painful, but isn’t usually a big health problem. It doesn’t always get worse. And in some women, it can get better with time. Boston Scientific officials told Reuters that they disagree with the verdict and have a strong case for post-trial motions and appeal. Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific is one of seven companies, including Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon division and C.R. Bard, faced with lawsuits over similar mesh products. Officials with Endo International plc said in September it the company has set aside $1.6 billion to settle “substantially all” the cases against it and its American Medical Systems unit. Read full story Source: Medical Product Outsourcing
  16. News Article
    A woman has been cleared of illegally terminating a pregnancy, after taking abortion pills during lockdown. Nicola Packer took the pills at home in November 2020. She had been prescribed mifepristone and misoprostol after a remote consultation. She later delivered a foetus, which the court heard was estimated to be about 26 weeks in gestation, which she brought with her to Chelsea and Westminster hospital, Isleworth crown court heard. She was arrested in hospital and later charged with “unlawfully administering to herself a poison or other noxious thing” with the “intent to procure a miscarriage”. Packer had been prescribed the medication under emergency pandemic legislation – later made permanent – that allows for pills to be dispatched by post after a remote consultation in pregnancies up to 10 weeks. The prosecution had alleged that she believed she was more than 10 weeks pregnant at the time she took the pills. But she denied the charges, and was found not guilty by a jury of nine women and three men, who returned a unanimous verdict, after the two-week trial. Katie Saxon, the chief strategic communications officer at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: “A woman who sought medical attention after experiencing a traumatic event has had to endure a protracted police investigation and public trial, her private life picked apart by prosecutors and reported in the national press, at a huge emotional and financial cost. “Prosecuting women for ‘illegal’ abortion is never in the public interest, and no woman should ever have to go through this again.” Dr Ranee Thakar, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “As a doctor, I am acutely aware of how vital it is that women can access essential healthcare in a safe and supportive environment. “Restrictive abortion laws in England and Wales nurture an environment of fear, stigmatisation and criminalisation. They needlessly subject women to prolonged investigation, criminal charges, and custodial sentences for ending their own pregnancy.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 8 May 2025
  17. News Article
    Two-thirds of specialist mental health services for mothers planned funding cuts last year despite soaring demand. An analysis of NHS spending by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) found 27 out of 42 areas in England planned cuts totalling £3.2 million in the 2024/25 financial year. Some areas such as Norfolk and Waveney planned to slash their budget by £257,466 - almost 5%. It comes as NHS figures show a surge in demand for people seeking help, with 63,858 women accessing perinatal mental health services in the year to February 2025, compared to 43,053 women in the year to February 2022. Baroness Luciana Berger, chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, told The Independent it was "deeply alarmed" by the findings. "Our research shows that investing in perinatal mental health services is not only a compassionate choice but an economically sound one. Unaddressed perinatal mental illness takes a significant toll on families and costs the UK economy £8.1 billion a year. "Cuts to these vital services risk devastating human consequences. Mental health remains the leading cause of maternal death. These tragedies will persist without continued investment and protection for specialist services.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 8 May 2025 Further reading on the hub: Mums with babies in NICU: postnatal maternal mental health support Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures: Black maternal mental health
  18. News Article
    One by one, 29 women sat before Dr Laura Abbott in similarly small, nondescript rooms across five UK prisons, and described losing their babies. They were not bereaved in the conventional sense – although they were clearly holding in grief, as once the guards had left, they let rare public tears fall. Prisoners who had given birth in custody, they had been separated from their newborn children. In some cases this had happened within four or five days of becoming mothers. “It was worse than giving birth,” said one woman. “That was the hardest pain of my life. I’ve never felt pain like it … It was in my chest, in my heart. Even in my belly.” “It was as if my whole body craved him,” said another woman. “It’s like losing a limb, losing your sight,” a third explained. “It’s like losing any hope.” Some of the mothers were still producing milk when Abbott and her assistants spoke to them. One said she was so reluctant to raise this in the prison that she was expressing manually into her cell sink. Abbott, 54, a former midwife and senior lecturer in midwifery at the University of Hertfordshire, spoke to the women last year for the Lost Mothers Project, which will be launching at the British Museum in London on 8 May. A collaboration between the university, the charity Birth Companions and an advisory team of women with lived experience, the report, which is the result of three years of research, examines the experiences and needs of an invisible cohort. Anna (not her real name), 38, has endured this. She was six months pregnant when she was sent to prison nine years ago for her first offence. She was at full term when she finally stood before an MBU board. She is vocal about the horrors of giving birth in custody. She had to press her call bell “four or five times for an hour” when she felt labour pains. She says she was taken to hospital in handcuffs: “[The guard] told me to be grateful that she put me in long cuffs.” They were taken off before she was taken to the delivery suite – since 2022, it is mandated that restraints must not be used on pregnant women taken to appointments unless they are deemed essential. But it is when she talks about her subsequent separation from her son that Anna momentarily loses her words. She was initially granted an MBU place, but when bailed before sentencing she had to go back to the beginning, and needed to reapply when she returned to prison. This bureaucratic delay resulted in a five-week separation. Anna began to feel suicidal, and even stopped her mum bringing her son to visit. “It was just getting harder. Sometimes my legs felt heavy, as if they didn’t want to walk away,” she says. “Sorry, I’m getting upset …” She continues: “It was as if somebody was tearing my heart out.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 6 May 2025
  19. News Article
    Health experts are calling for more UK clinical trials to focus on finding new treatments for women, as “concerning” data reveals they are severely under-represented, with 67% more male-only studies than female-only. Details of thousands of studies were collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the University of Liverpool. The evidence shows the UK is a hub for pioneering research, with one in eight trials testing humans for the first time, and cutting-edge treatments such as gene therapies becoming a new growth area. But a review of the data by the Guardian found that women were significantly under-represented. Both sexes were included in most trials (90%), but male-only trials (6.1%) were nearly twice as common as female-only studies (3.7%). Pregnant and breastfeeding women were especially under-represented – involved in just 1.1% and 0.6% of trials respectively. Women’s health experts expressed alarm over the figures, which they said meant women and their doctors were having to make decisions about whether to take a drug in a “vacuum of evidence”. Some areas of research are dominated by men at all levels – funders, researchers, consultants and patients – and as a result there could be a “reluctance” to fund female-only trials, the experts added. Dr Amy Brenner, an assistant professor in the clinical trials unit at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: “It is particularly concerning that there are more male-only trials than female-only trials as, while they may be disease-specific, it is certainly not true that there are more male-only than female-only diseases.” The gender gap had serious implications, Brenner said. “This under-representation means there is a lack of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of many interventions in women.” There was an “urgent need” to correct the disparity in order to improve women’s health outcomes, she added. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 7 May 2025 Further reading on the hub: Medicines, research and female hormones: a dangerous knowledge gap
  20. News Article
    A new at-home treatment option offers hope for women suffering from endometriosis. The NHS has approved linzagolix, also known as Yselty, a once-daily pill designed to alleviate the debilitating symptoms of the condition. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1.5 million women in the UK, causing tissue similar to the womb lining to grow elsewhere in the body. This can lead to a range of painful and disruptive symptoms, including severe pelvic pain, heavy periods, exhaustion, and fertility problems. The current diagnostic process can be lengthy, with NICE reporting an average nine-year delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. Linzagolix offers a new approach to managing endometriosis by blocking specific hormones that contribute to the condition's symptoms. This new oral medication is expected to benefit up to 1,000 women annually, providing a more convenient and accessible treatment option. Read full story Source: The Independent, 1 May 2025
  21. Content Article
    Jacqueline Anne Potter, known as Anne, was a 54 year old teacher who died by suicide following a decline in her mental health. Anne died during overnight leave from an acute psychiatric unit in Somerset, where she was being looked after because of mental health issues exacerbated by menopause. In this report, the coroner raises concerns about her care and the lack of importance given to menopausal care in the NHS. Coroner's matters of concern Overnight leave arrangements When Anne was sent on her first overnight leave there was no codified ‘risk’ and ‘safety planning’ document. While in Anne’s case the report notes that it was widely accepted that her husband was well versed and knowledgeable about his wife’s risks and the measures that might be necessary to help keep her safe whilst she was at home, the Coroner noted that this may not apply in other cases. The report said that whilst families are not mental health practitioners and are not expected to adopt that role within the community there appears to be an opportunity to supply families with a short, codified document dealing with salient points of risks and safety planning when a patient goes for their first overnight leave since being detained. The Coroner suggests that this could help equip families with the knowledge to spot signs of declining mental presentation and/or risk and provide them with the knowledge and/or tools to take appropriate steps to assist in safeguarding their loved ones while they are in the community. Internet access in mental health settings The report notes that it found that if an in-patient (detained or voluntary) accesses the secure unit Wi-Fi there are no algorithms or ‘search detection features’ to prevent access to websites pertaining to self harm and so these can be readily accessed by a group who are already vulnerable due to their acute mental health presentation with some element of inherent risk of suicide. The Coroner noted that workplace organisations do have the ability to block sites if they deem it undesirable for their workforce to access (such as sites relating to gambling, sexually inappropriate content, etc). The report states that by allowing an already vulnerable group to have unfettered access to websites dedicated to self harm creates a risk of further deaths. Menopausal care The Coroner noted several areas of concern about menopausal care available on the NHS: Menopausal training is not mandatory in any area of clinical practice or specialism. The Coroner expressed concerns that there is no requirement to undertake essential compulsory menopausal training for those working in ‘relevant’ clinical practices such as mental health practice, obstetrics and gynaecology, and oncology, or even general as a general GP. The Coroner noted that she was told that the Trust has just one ‘menopause specialist’ (a GP) who covers the entire Trust operations. Not all GP surgeries have a menopause specialist practitioner (or access to one) despite a GP usually being the first port of call for women in the community when seeking primary care. Those GP surgeries who do have a practitioner who acts as a ‘specialist’ is often a GP with a personal interest who has taken the initiative to go on courses and broaden their learning and understanding, rather than any mandatory requirement for a surgery [or group with multiple surgeries] to have an available community ‘front-line’ specialist. She also noted that: “I was told during a previous PFD Response relating to menopausal knowledge and care within the NHS that “It is important to ensure that women understand common symptoms such as anxiety, stress and depression which they might experience during the menopause and where and when to seek help. The NHS website has resources….” This emphasises my concerns entirely; the lack of importance given to menopausal symptoms. If someone has concerns about heart disease, a worrying lump, a broken bone etc they expect to be able to consult a medically qualified professional who has a knowledge and understanding of their condition or presentation and can diagnose and treat accordingly; not just [and I paraphrase] ‘have a look at a website to help’.” Concluding, the Coroner referenced being told in a response to a previous Prevention of Future Deaths report where she raised similar concerns about a roll-out of specialist menopausal care and upskilling of GPs. She stated that from reviewing this case there was little evidence that this has happened/is happening and said that women continue to approach and navigate the menopause without the support of expert clinicians or practitioners who understand and can treat the symptoms they are experiencing.
  22. News Article
    Most integrated care systems lack a women’s health hub offering full services — contrary to government claims — according to research seen by HSJ. In spring last year, the government and NHS England said all systems were expected to have at least one operational women’s health hub in place by the end of December 2024. They were required to provide clinical support and consultations/triaging in eight “core” services. Health minister Karin Smyth told Parliament at the start of this year the objective had been met in 39 out of 42 integrated care systems. But research by the Menstrual Health Coalition found only 14 integrated care boards had established hubs offering all eight core services, as required. The services are: menstrual problems assessment and treatment; menopause assessment and treatment; contraceptive counselling and provision of all methods; preconception care; breast pain assessment; pessary fitting and removal; cervical screening; and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. The coalition, an alliance of patient and advocate groups, collected information from all ICBs between October and December. Its co-chair Anne Connolly, a GP specialising in gynaecology, said: “Our findings challenge the narrative that women’s health hubs have been successfully implemented nationwide. “While figures suggest that hubs are in place, the reality is that many do not provide the full range of services women were promised… There is now an urgent need for transparency alongside the rollout of women’s health services, particularly as the current funding is short term and lacks the necessary commitment to future-proofing these services.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 30 April 2025
  23. Content Article
    The most recent Labour Party manifesto made a promise: “Never again will women’s health be neglected. Labour will prioritise women’s health as we reform the NHS”. This report takes that promise as a backdrop to an examination of inequalities in women’s sexual and reproductive health. It starts with the observation that women’s reproductive health has historically been overlooked by policy makers, with only 2% of medical research funding spent on pregnancy, childbirth and female reproductive health. This, it says, “leaves stark evidence gaps about female-specific health”. There are also “acute variations of women’s access to local reproductive health services due to the fragmented way the system is designed and delivered”. According to the authors, these variations deepen inequalities. Problems include the following: Care pathways that are disjointed, difficult to navigate and create artificial divisions between contraception, sexual and reproductive health. A lack of ethnicity reporting, leading to disparities in care and outcomes. Cuts to Public Health Grant funding, with real terms spending on contraception falling by 29% between 2015/16 and 2022/23, and with big reductions in the availability of specialist sexual and reproductive health clinics. These cuts “tend to be greater in more deprived areas, which compounds and entrenches existing health inequalities”. There are further recommendations, at both the national and the local and regional levels. The report’s authors are clear that 'sexual and reproductive health forms a central part of women’s health', and call on the government to deliver on its manifesto promise.
  24. Content Article
    This Independent Report led by Professor Mary Renfrew was commissioned in May 2023 by the Department of Health (DoH) Northern Ireland (NI). It forms part of a broad programme of work to receive assurance on the safety of maternity and neonatal services for the population of NI. It resulted from two related developments: A request from the Coroner for Northern Ireland that the Department of Health NI take action to investigate her concerns following an inquest into the death of a baby that raised questions about care in Freestanding midwifery led units (MLUs). In the inquest report the Coroner identified a number of practice and system failings and shortcomings including the management of shoulder dystocia, fetal macrosomia (the baby being large for gestational age), and raised maternal body mass index (BMI). At the time of the inquest, all Freestanding MLUs in NI were closed. The Coroner found that a comprehensive review of the number of staff, experience, training, and policies should be conducted by the DoH, in the event of these Units reopening in the future. In response to this request, the Permanent Secretary asked the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for NI, along with the Midwifery Officer, to instigate an inquiry into the issues highlighted by the Coroner. Several other reports, both local and national, concerning the safety of services for pregnant women, new mothers, and babies required consideration of the wider health service context that influences midwifery and maternity care and services. In summary, the report advocates for the following changes: A shared strategic vision for safe, quality midwifery and wider maternal and newborn services in Northern Ireland with a regional framework for action. A reconfigured relationship with women, families and communities, ensuring respectful personalised care for all and a genuine voice in shaping services. A consistent, region-wide, evidence-informed approach to planning, funding, standards, provision, monitoring, and review of maternity and neonatal services. Improving clinical, psychological, and cultural safety and equity for women, babies and families across the whole continuum of care and in all settings. Changing the prevailing work culture to implement an enabling environment for all staff and managers, including ensuring midwives are represented at senior management levels, tackling silo working, and developing an open learning culture at every level of the system. Supporting midwives to provide quality midwifery care and services across the whole continuum of maternal and newborn care, with investment in community as well as hospital services, and increasing midwives’ influence over the safety and quality of care and services. Better oversight through improved accountability, monitoring, evaluation, and research. A unified approach to education and training of all staff, including leadership development - especially for midwives - and capacity building for the future.
  25. Content Article
    Adolescent pregnancy is a worldwide phenomenon, albeit with variations between and within countries. It continues to have serious and lasting consequences. There is an imbalance between efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy and efforts to respond to the needs of pregnant and parenting girls and their families. Although normative documents, policies and programmes are more likely to be based on sound data and evidence than in the past, this is still a work in progress. In the 13 years since the publication of the 2011 guideline, more research evidence and programmatic experience have been generated. The field has transitioned from a focus on addressing the needs of all adolescents, to addressing the needs of groups of adolescents depending on their particular needs and circumstances. Based on these developments, stakeholders within and outside the United Nations expressed in a variety of fora that the guideline served a useful purpose and called for it to be updated

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