Focus on women's health - All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women's Health

The Conference was also attended by the Minister for Women’s Health, Jackie Doyle-Price MP and Chaired by Paula Sherriff MP, the champion for the removal of the tampon tax.

Panels included well-known TV faces such as Dr Christian Jessen and Katie Piper as well as health specialists with particular concerns or interests around women's health.

Some key points from the Conference:

• There remain persistent inequalities in healthcare provision that are affecting women; and it was noted how life expectancy levels vary across geographical areas. Particular notice was paid to some groups including those within the black and minority ethnic community (BME); people with learning difficulties and those with mental health problems. Related to this, it was felt that there is a general and broad need for cultural awareness, and an understanding of differing needs, to be embedded across all service and support provision.
• There are concerns that cervical screening coverage is falling across the UK.
• Concerns were also raised that in some places, treatments for women, such as removal of fibroids, are being reduced or restricted.
• Concerns were expressed over the fragmented nature of commissioning and provision of services, which in some circumstances have seen women undergoing multiple examinations throughout a treatment pathway (for example vaginal examinations).
• There were reports of a lack of local accountability within the NHS, which has meant that local voices do not always get heard.
• Mixed experiences were reported with regards to how well women are listened to and treated when they are in maternity services, and when they attend for other women related issues.
• There is continued concern about the reduction in resources for preventive health care and sexual health; with a particular focus on contraception and associated concerns about increased numbers of unplanned pregnancies.
• There is a need for more (and better) sex education to help younger people develop 'healthy relationships'. The conference proposed ideas such as the need for shared and accessible language about the body to enable young people to communicate more effectively.
• There were general concerns about the ways in which the internet is shaping young peoples ideas of the body, sex and sexuality. Physical images, and the ease by which these can be accessed, is potentially having a negative impact, and there is a need to counter this by generating a wider range of information to help younger people navigate social media. It is critical that children and young people are provided with accurate advice and reliable resources.
• A consultation on legislation about sex education in schools will take place in 2018, and Healthwatch will be on the look out for this to ensure that Brighton Hove residents can feed in their views.
• Lastly, the conference discussed the gender disparity in heart attack and stroke victims, and that there is a real need for more awareness and research into these areas. It was noted that women who have heart attacks are 3.5 times more likely to die than men, and specialists suggest that there is an under-recognition by women and doctors that typical presentation of a heart attack varies between women and men. The next inquiry as part of the Women's Health Group will prioritise this.

If you want to see the conversation from the conference, check #WHAPPG2018, and visit their website:

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Womens Health