Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to improve knowledge on identifying and diagnosing conditions that are (a) specific to and (b) disproportionately affect Black women.

Through the call for evidence for the Women’s Health Strategy, we received responses which highlighted limited research into women’s health issues and a lack of diversity in clinical trials. We also received feedback on the need for improved education and training for healthcare professionals on women’s health issues and how health issues in the general population can affect women differently.

The recently published Women’s Health Strategy aims to work with the National Institute for Health and Care Research to encourage high quality research in women’s health, support women to lead research studies and participate in trials and maximise the impact of this research. We will work with the General Medical Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Health Education England and others to ensure health and care professionals receive adequate training in women’s health, particularly for those women experiencing health disparities.

During the implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy, the recently appointed Women’s Health Ambassador for England will ensure that population groups experiencing disparities are represented.