Closing the gender health gap
Published 17 December 2024
Written by Dr. Louise Rix, Head of Clinical Product and Operations for Simplyhealth
Women's health has historically been underserved, leaving countless women feeling unheard and unsupported. Unfortunately, this issue is worsening, with over three quarters of a million women currently on NHS wait lists and diagnosis times stretching to nearly a decade for certain conditions1.
That’s why, at Simplyhealth, we’re thrilled with the success of our women’s health-focused GP service, which was designed to close the gender health gap and provide the care women* truly deserve.
Challenges in Women’s Healthcare
For too long, women have faced systemic challenges in accessing quality healthcare:
Limited training: Many general practitioners receive limited specialised training in women’s health, leaving critical issues like endometriosis or menopause underdiagnosed.
Feeling unheard: Studies show that women often feel dismissed when discussing their symptoms with doctors, leading to delays in treatment2.
Pain is ignored: Pain experienced by women, such as pelvic pain, is sometimes minimised or overlooked3.
Long diagnosis times: On average, it takes 7-8 years for conditions like endometriosis to be diagnosed, a delay that could be shortened with earlier recognition in primary care4.
Long wait lists: Once referred, women often face long waiting lists in secondary care due to limited specialists and high demand. During this time, conditions can worsen, meaning more invasive treatments are required.
One patient who used the Simplyhealth women’s health-focused GP service said:
"I have been unable to get an appointment at my own GP so it was great to not only be able to book an appointment but also be reassured they would be more sympathetic/skilled in women’s health as I felt more comfortable talking through all my issues."
New Developments in Women’s Health
These challenges have been recognised nationally, leading to £25 million being allocated to create new women’s health hubs as part of the Women’s Health Strategy for England. These hubs act as one-stop centres, allowing women to access diagnostics, treatments and specialised support in a single visit.
While hubs are a fantastic step forward, even delivering the target one hub per integrated care board (ICB) still leaves many women, particularly in rural areas, tens of kilometres from their nearest centre. Simplyhealth recognises this gap and is committed to filling it by providing accessible, high-quality women’s healthcare, available on-demand.
Our Solution: Transforming Women’s Healthcare
We’ve developed a comprehensive women’s health-focused GP service that addresses these systemic issues and enhances access to care. Here’s how we’re making a difference:
Carefully selected providers: GPs delivering the service are chosen for their additional training or specific interest in women’s health, enabling earlier recognition of symptoms and faster, more accurate diagnoses.
Longer appointment times: With appointments over 50% longer than the average NHS consultation, our patients have more time to feel heard and understood. The average appointment time for the Women’s Health-Focused GP Service is 15.5 minutes vs an NHS average of 9.2 minutes as found in one study5.
Thorough symptom evaluation: By dedicating more time and attention to understanding women’s symptoms, our GPs ensure that concerns such as pelvic pain and other chronic issues are properly investigated and not overlooked.
Streamlined diagnostic pathways: Through our trusted partners, we offer additional diagnostic tests and scans, enabling quicker diagnoses without the need for immediate secondary care referrals.
Reduced dependency on secondary care: Women can remain within the Simplyhealth quality-assured health service from diagnosis to treatment, benefitting from continuity of care by seeing the same GP when needed. For cases requiring specialist care outside of that from Simplyhealth, we provide interim support while patients await specialist appointments.
Emma Southworth, GP and Deputy Medical Director at HealthHero, shared:
"We can really start working to close the gender health gap by coupling an empathetic approach with awareness of the most up to date research and guidelines in women’s health."
The Results
The results of the service have been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the real impact Simplyhealth’s women’s health-focused GP service is making.
Patient satisfaction: Feedback highlights an average rating of 4.7 stars over the past six months, showcasing the quality and care provided.
Higher resolution during initial consultation: 56% of appointments result in advice with no further action compared to 34% for standard GP services, reflecting the efficiency and expertise of our women’s health-focused GPs in addressing concerns comprehensively during the first visit.
Focus on gynaecological health: Gynaecological issues were the most common presenting complaint, accounting for over 70% of consultations, while breast health concerns made up over 10%.
Longer appointment times: Our appointment times are 50% longer than NHS GP consultations, giving patients more time to feel heard and have their health concerns fully addressed.
Timely access to care: The average time to get an appointment with Simplyhealth’s women’s health-focused GP is 34 hours, ensuring women can access care quickly without prolonged delays.
Preference for specialised care: In a recent survey, 94% of patients stated they would prefer to speak with a women’s health-focused GP about their concerns.
These results demonstrate the tangible difference Simplyhealth is making in closing the gender health gap, empowering women to take charge of their health with confidence and trust.
Building a Healthier Future for Women
At Simplyhealth, we’re committed to transforming women’s healthcare and closing the gender health gap. With increased access, greater awareness and patient empowerment, we are laying the groundwork for faster diagnoses and better outcomes.
To all the women navigating their health journeys: we’re here for you.
*Where we refer to women, we recognise that many women's health concerns apply to those assigned female at birth, identify as female or exhibit female biological and/or physiological traits.
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