A glimpse into good Gynae care?..Women's Health Hubs

Now you see them, now you don't...Women's Health Hubs

Evidence shows women spend more years of their lives in ill health or disability compared to men.  The “Women’s Health Strategy”[1] highlighted numerous issues with women’s health services in the UK including for example fragmented care and long gynaecology waiting lists.  Women’s Health Hubs aimed to address these needs and some early feedback for established Hubs has been positive with women reporting caring and convenient services.[2]

Nonetheless, the present government has faced accusations of reneging on its commitments to implement Women's Health Hubs with their

“slimming down of targets for the NHS to focus on fixing “fundamentals”.[3] 

Many have argued that women’s health is being side lined including the Royal College of Obstetrician’s and Gynaecologists who have released a statement in response to these changes citing,

“The apparent decision to abandon investments which have delivered benefits to women and the NHS is self-defeating” .[4]

In response, the government have hinted at the threat to Hubs as

“fake news” arguing that they are instructing the NHS to prioritise, to cut waiting lists for operations, A&E and ambulances.[3]   

However, aren’t we forgetting something?  Hub Models benefit more than women. Hubs will also benefit the NHS workforce by optimising the skills of teams, with the potential to improve working life and encourage better partnership between primary, community and secondary care.  Not forgetting of course that overall success of Hubs will contribute to a more efficient & integrated health and care system.  Moreover, Hubs align with the NHS Long Term Plan to help bring down the need for excessive amounts of outpatient appointments.[5] Cost benefit analysis suggests Hubs provide good value for money. This is because the benefits of hubs impact on a substantial proportion of the population, with opportunities to streamline the health service, and often with limited implementation and ongoing costs.[6] 

If Hubs are financially practical, perhaps the government should question whether we can afford not to implement them.

References

[1]    Department of Health, Women’s Health Strategy for England, Gov.Uk. (2022). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/womens-health-strategy-for-england/womens-health-strategy-for-england#priority-areas (accessed February 13, 2025).

[2]    K. Daniel, J. Bousfield, L. Hocking, L. Jackson, B. Taylor, Women’s Health Hubs: a rapid mixed methods evaluation, Heal. Soc. Care Deliv. Res. 12 (2024) 1–138. https://doi.org/10.3310/JYFT5036.

[3]    Women’s Health Strategy - Hansard - UK Parliament, (n.d.). https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-01-30/debates/9B321E0F-DA4A-42F1-A0B3-4FE808F51E33/Women’SHealthStrategy (accessed February 13, 2025).

[4]    RCOG responds to reports that central support for women’s health hubs will end | RCOG, (n.d.). https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-responds-to-reports-that-central-support-for-women-s-health-hubs-will-end/ (accessed February 13, 2025).

[5]    NHS Long Term Plan, (n.d.). https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/ (accessed February 13, 2025).

[6]    Women’s health hubs: cost benefit analysis - GOV.UK, (n.d.). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/womens-health-hubs-information-and-guidance/womens-health-hubs-cost-benefit-analysis (accessed February 13, 2025).

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