Health Secretary Wes Streeting commits to ending outdated practices and improving healthcare access for women across England through ten-year plan published 15 April 2026.
The government has published its renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, promising to end “outdated and misogynistic practices” that leave women feeling dismissed and in pain during medical treatment.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched the strategy on 15 April with a commitment to transform how the NHS treats women seeking healthcare. The ten-year plan forms part of the government’s broader health reforms.
Pain Relief Revolution
Women will receive appropriate pain relief for invasive gynaecological procedures under new standards of care. This includes contraceptive fitting and hysteroscopies — procedures that have historically been performed with minimal or no pain management.
The change addresses longstanding complaints from women who have endured painful medical procedures without adequate relief. Almost half of women reported encountering challenges accessing their preferred method of contraception in a 2024 survey.
Streamlined Referrals
A single referral point will direct women to the right professional first time, cutting waiting times for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids. Endometriosis can take nearly a decade to diagnose under current arrangements.
The strategy also establishes a new women’s voices partnership. This will bring together organisations representing women to inform future policy and decision making.
Expanded Screening Programme
From 2026, the standard NHS Health Check for adults aged 40 to 74 will include questions about menopause symptoms. This expansion could reach up to 5 million women across England.
The government has allocated £1 million for a menstrual education programme and £1.5 million for a Femtech challenge fund to support innovation in women’s healthcare technology.
Recent related initiatives include free emergency contraception in pharmacies, at-home HPV testing kits, and gynaecology becoming the first specialty available through NHS Online consultations.
Jess’s Rule now requires GPs to ‘think again’ if they see a patient three times without identifying a diagnosis or if symptoms worsen — addressing concerns about women’s health complaints being dismissed.
Source: @bmj_latest
Key Takeaways
- Women will receive proper pain relief for invasive gynaecological procedures including contraceptive fitting
- Single referral system will reduce waiting times for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids
- NHS Health Checks will include menopause screening for women aged 40-74 from 2026
What This Means for Kent Residents
Kent women will benefit from a specialist centre in the South East region offering group-based approaches to women’s health pathways including contraception, heavy periods, uro-gynaecology, and menopause care. NHS Kent and Medway ICB services will implement the streamlined clinical pathways, potentially reducing waiting times for gynaecological conditions that have historically left women waiting months for proper diagnosis and treatment. Women aged 40-74 across Kent will have access to menopause screening through expanded NHS Health Checks, while new pain management standards will apply to all local NHS services performing gynaecological procedures.
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