Women’s Health Strategy for England

The government has published a report summarising written responses from 436 organisations and experts in women’s health, to its call for evidence to inform preparations for the first-ever ‘Women’s Health Strategy’ for England (see press release), following on from a policy paper published by the government in December 2021. Minister for Women’s Health Maria Caulfield said: “women have lived in a healthcare system primarily designed by men, for men.” So now, the time has come to “tackle the gender health gap”.
This undertaking also extends to women’s health in the workplace, a topic on which some of the contributions are focused. This should prompt global thinking aimed at making the workplace more welcoming for female workers, by addressing the types of suffering experienced by women, such as endometriosis, periods, the menopause, miscarriages and the impact of domestic violence on work.
As far as the menopause is concerned, in addition to the familiar symptom of hot flushes, many organisations have provided examples of little-known symptoms such as brain fog, memory loss and anxiety, which can have a direct and serious impact on women’s concentration and prevent them from completing their tasks at work. Employers need to tackle taboo subjects and the stigmatisation of menopausal women: taking action in this way should lead to enhanced retention of female workers, improved productivity and reduced absenteeism among the working population.
The document also covers other aspects of female-specific experience in the workplace, such as: endometriosis, where it advocates that women should be able to take sick leave if necessary, rather than having to use up their paid holiday when they need to take time off work; taking account of domestic violence, given that many women may lose their jobs because their attacker has ‘sabotaged’ their ability to work; and interrupted pregnancies (miscarriages) and stillbirths.
(Article published in IR Note 184 – 20 April 2022)