The BIG Conversation: Women's Health Report for North East & North Cumbria

In July 2024, the ‘Women’s Health ‘The Big Conversation’ was launched in partnership with the North East and North Cumbria Healthwatch network. 

‘The Big Conversation’ included an online survey from July - September 2024 which was shared across the North East and North Cumbria. Alongside the survey, six focus groups took place, targeting specific groups of women who were identified as ‘seldom heard’ e.g. who have additional health inequalities or barriers to accessing health care such as those with learning disabilities, unpaid carers, and women with maternal mental health challenges.

The information gathered has been analysed with key themes and recommendations included in this report. 

This report will be shared with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) and used to further inform the key priorities including future ‘Big Conversations’, what improvements are needed, and what other topics are of most importance to women. 

Headline Findings

• 61% of women said they feel confident to speak with a healthcare professional about their women’s health issues. However, many went on to say they aren’t confident they will be heard or get the help they need.
• Women said they aren’t listened to, they are dismissed and not taken seriously when seeking support from healthcare professionals.
• GPs have a critical role as the ‘gatekeepers to support’ for most women. We heard that many women are concerned that their GP does not listen to them, act on what they are told or doesn’t have up to date knowledge about many women’s health issues. Improving experiences in primary care will significantly improve confidence in women’s health care.
• Women want the choice to have a female healthcare professional; this is a strong message from our general engagement but particularly important in our targeted work with underrepresented groups.
• The GP (75%) and NHS website (75%) were selected as the most common place to find information on women’s health. Our session with underrepresented groups highlighted the need for targeted accessible communications and the importance of peers in their communities and community support organisations.
• It is important to women that their health records are easily accessible by healthcare professionals and kept up to date.
• Women would like more research into women’s health concerns.
• Additional insight was provided which was specific to the cohort e.g. it was felt by the focus group of women with learning disabilities that there was a lack of knowledge around the impact of neurodivergence on women’s health. Confidentiality was a concern for the focus group which included women who had experienced sexual assault.

Overall, women told us their top 5 priorities in relation to women’s health are: 

• Mental health and wellbeing: Including depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
• Healthy ageing and long-term conditions: Including falls, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, bone, joint and muscle health, and bladder/urinary.
• Menopause, perimenopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
• Screening services: Including cancer screenings for cervical, breast and bowel.
• Menstrual and gynaecological health.