By March, the Welsh government is set to roll out women’s health hubs across every health board in Wales, marking a start to their ten-year Women’s Health Plan.
The strategy aims to improve healthcare for all women in Wales. The first pilot health hub opened earlier this month in Aberyswyth, led by GPs and nurses to provide more specialist services and community—based support.
Key commitments were laid out last year, including £750,000 dedicated towards research into women’s health conditions.
The 10-year plan, led by the Welsh Government, is now putting into action its promise, with a new focus on areas of women’s health which are often overlooked and under resourced.
This includes menstrual health, endometriosis, and adenomyosis, contraceptive and reproductive care, preconception health, pelvic health, menopause, violence against women and girls and ageing and long-term conditions.
Supported by First Minister Eluned Morgan and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy, the women’s health hubs form a central part of a wider plan to address and tackle the unfortunate gender health gap.
Women continuously have their symptoms dismissed or underplayed.
Hopefully, through providing dedicated services, the hubs will help to deal with this issue, and ensure women feel empowered and supported in regards to their health and well-being.
As the hubs continue to open across Wales, hopefully women and girls will feel more supported in their healthcare. It marks a key step in removing the gender health gap and ensuring equal and consistent support for all patients.