Women’s Health Strategy

Baroness Sugg Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Sugg]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve women’s healthcare as part of their renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, this Government are committed to prioritising women’s health as we reform the NHS and have been clear that women’s health will never be neglected again. The renewed women’s health strategy will reflect on delivery since 2022, address gaps and go further on totemic issues, including health inequalities and women not feeling listened to, particularly when experiencing pain. The strategy will set this out in the context of the 10-year health plan.

[Baroness Sugg (Con)]

I thank the noble Baroness for that answer and for her championing of women’s health in her role. She will know that women’s health hubs have been shown to be successful in reducing gynaecological waiting lists and speeding up women’s access to care, and were highlighted as a real success in the 10-year plan. The Minister is a strong supporter of the hubs, but, while most areas now have some form of provision, the rollout has been patchy, meaning that not all women can access their services. Given the removal of the mandatory requirement for ICBs to establish hubs, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that the women’s health strategy maintains a clear commitment to the long-term sustainability of women’s health hubs as part of their improved neighbourhood health services?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I very much share the noble Baroness’s assessment of the value of women’s health hubs. She will know that I have taken a considerable personal interest in this. The target to establish a women’s health hub in every ICB was the purpose of a time-limited pilot established by the last Government, and that target was met. Women’s health hubs are absolutely effective when it comes to improving access to and experiences of care for women. I have promoted them as the best example of community-based and joined-up healthcare. That is why, as the noble Baroness will have seen in the 10-year health plan, the women’s health hub in Tower Hamlets was specifically highlighted as a best-practice example of neighbourhood health, and we continue to support ICBs to improve their delivery of women’s health hubs.