Female Health Archives - FTWW

The cover from the presentation with FTWW and Laura's logos, with the heading Getting the most from your medical appointment

Getting the most from your medical appointment

August 19, 2024

Back in June at the second Everywoman Festival, we delivered a workshop called ‘Getting the most from your medical appointment’, in partnership with FTWW’s PMDD Volunteer Champion, Laura Teare-Jones. We wanted to make sure it was made available to all who may need it, so Dee and Laura recently met to record it. You can watch – and share – via our Vimeo, below. If you need the slides to refer to in your own time, a QR code can be scanned at the end of the video which will enable you to download them. Don’t forget, you can also…

An illustration of a uterus, with text reading breaking the silence on gynaecological cancers - and beyond! FTWW statement

Breaking the Silence on Gynaecological Cancers – and Beyond!

May 16, 2024

FTWW Statement on Senedd Health & Social Care Committee Inquiry into Gynaecological Cancers & Plenary debate (15/05/24) Breaking the Silence on Gynaecological Cancers – and Beyond! Having contributed extensively to the recent inquiry into gynaecological cancers undertaken by the Senedd Health & Social Care Committee, FTWW was keen to read the Welsh Government’s response to the Committee’s subsequent report, ‘Unheard: Women’s Journey Through Gynaecological Cancer’. Whilst the vast majority of its recommendations were accepted by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Eluned Morgan, some were not – and, so, the debate in yesterday’s plenary session in the Senedd was…

two rebel bodies paperbacks lie next to each other on a red background.

Rebel Bodies is out in paperback!

January 30, 2024

We are delighted to share that Sarah Graham’s fantastic book, Rebel Bodies: A Guide to the Gender Health Gap Revolution, is now out in paperback! You may recall that FTWW was included as a case study in what has become a must-read for anyone with an interest in intersectional female health issues, so please do spread the word! Sarah is currently running a giveaway over on her Instagram page, but if you already have it, why not check out her top picks for Rebel readers over on Bookshop.org?

FTWW backs Welsh NHS Confederation call for conversation on future of nation’s health and wellbeing

September 26, 2023

32 organisations, including FTWW, have come together to support the Welsh NHS Confederation’s call for a cross-government national conversation on the future of health and wellbeing. The organisations, from a range of sectors in Wales, believe it is for all government departments, ministers and sectors to ask what they can do to support the health and wellbeing of people now and in the future. Read more here.

Female health and Endometriosis: Read our blogs for The Welsh Fabians

September 22, 2023

We were delighted to be asked to write two blogs for The Welsh Fabians, part of The Fabian Society, which is an independent left-leaning think tank and a democratic membership society with over 7,000 members. They influence political and public thinking and provide a space for broad and open-minded debate. They also publish insight, analysis and opinion; conduct research and undertake major policy inquiries; convene conferences, speaker meetings and roundtables; and facilitate member debate and activism across the UK. For our first blog, In ‘The Land of Our Fathers’, is Women’s Health a Poor Relation?, we discuss female health inequalities…

Becci is a white woman with short red and orange dyed hair. She is sat in her kitchen speaking to a reporter who is off camera.

PMDD: Becci Launches Petition

August 21, 2023

FTWW members and PMDD Champions, Becci and Laura, featured on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast regarding Becci’s Senedd Petition to improve care for the condition (1.35.00 on). Becci also talked to BBC Wales News Online and BBC Wales Today. ITV’s This Morning programme also highlighted the campaign, and discussed PMDD in more detail, to help viewers understand symptoms. Watch here (from the 3.25 mark). Becci is calling for PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) to be part of core teaching for healthcare professionals in Wales, as the condition is so misunderstood and under-recognised. Please sign and share her petition, here.

Experts call for urgent mental health support for people living with long term autoimmune diseases

August 18, 2023

A new study has highlighted the shocking mismatch of clinician and patients experiences of neurological and mental health issues in people with autoimmune rheumatological conditions. More than half of patients with auto-immune conditions experience mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, yet the majority are rarely or never asked in clinic about mental health symptoms, according to new research from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. Read more, here.

Focus on Menopause: #Flushfest23 and the second All-Wales Menopause Conference

August 17, 2023

Join #FlushFest23 in Edinburgh or online on 8 and 9 September, for a festival full of menopause advice, fun, storytelling, wellbeing workshops and much more. See the full programme and buy tickets here. We’d also like to remind you that the second All-Wales Menopause Conference takes place in November. This one is also hybrid, and will welcome renowned national and international speakers, shining a light on topics such as menopause and cardiovascular, bone, and mental health, menopause in the workplace, and the role of testosterone. FTWW is pleased to be facilitating the involvement of expert patients. Find more information and buy…

A picture of an intrauterine device (IUD), otherwise known as the coil

The BMJ: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and pain

July 10, 2023

The BMJ Opinion: We must validate the painful experiences of many women using intrauterine devices FTWW volunteer, Lucy, and the Women’s Health Coalition were mentioned in an Opinion Piece featured in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) about the need to address women’s experiences of pain, trauma, and lack of informed consent when having minor gynae procedures. The article, written by Stephanie O’Donohue from Patient Safety Learning, responds to Davina McCall’s documentary Pill Revolution, which Stephanie argues missed an opportunity to validate painful experiences of intrauterine devices and promote better practice. Read more here.

The webinar flyer, showing details and FTWW and FNUK logos, as well as an illustration of people holding hands.

Watch our Webinar: Getting the Most from Your Medical Appointments

June 29, 2023

We were really pleased to co-host this event with Fertility Network UK Cymru on June 19th. We were joined by FTWW member and Hormone & Mindset Coach, Laura Teare-Jones, who offered practical tips on how to prepare for healthcare appointments. Alongside her was Angela Mutlow, from Llais, an independent statutory body set up by the Welsh Government both to provide support to those wishing to make a complaint about their care and to give the people of Wales much more say in the planning and delivery of health and care services. Whether you are on a fertility journey or not, we are sure you…

Every Woman Festival Recap!

June 26, 2023

We’d like to say a HUGE thank you to Julie Cornish and The Every Woman Festival team for such a fantastic event in Cardiff on Saturday! It was empowering, emotive and informative; seeing so many people coming together to discuss female health, share information and support each other was just brilliant. Thank you so much for inviting us to be part of it. Dee spoke on the main stage about her experiences with endometriosis and adenomyosis, alongside two incredible women; Molly Fenton, founder of The Love Your Period Campaign, and Bethan Walters, a UN advocate for menstrual health and…

A photo of Sam Skelton, a white woman with black curly hair.

Marie Curie Gender and End of Life Care report published

May 26, 2023

FTWW thanks Marie Curie for its report into gender differences at end of life across Wales, which includes a powerful foreword from FTWW Member, Sam Skelton (pictured). The report’s top recommendation is that findings are considered in any life course Women’s Health Plan for Wales – a recommendation that FTWW supports. Find out more and read the report, here.

Dee Dickens

Mental Health Inequalities debate in the Senedd

May 9, 2023

FTWW was pleased to support members to participate in the Advisory Group and attend the debate as audience members. The Advisory Group continues to hold the Government to account, with FTWW Trustee, Dee Dickens (pictured), quoted in a BBC report about the debate, which you can read here.

Disability History Month – Taskforce representation

November 25, 2022

16 November – 16 December is Disability History Month, and this year’s theme is Disability, Health and Well Being. The Covid Pandemic has demonstrated across the UK and around the world just how fragile the Rights disabled people have secured for themselves are, and this was of course highlighted in the Locked Out report. We are pleased therefore to continue our representation on Welsh Government’s co-produced Disability Rights Taskforce, representing members across a number of working groups – including Independent Living: Health and Wellbeing, which held its first meeting on 23 November and was Chaired by our very own trustee, Willow.

Jane Hutt MS

Period Proud – Jane Hutt MS thanks FTWW

November 15, 2022

Heledd Fychan MS led a short debate about enshrining the strategy on period poverty in legislation, like the Scottish Government’s Period Products (Free Provision) Act 2021. The Minister for Social Justice announced a plan for eliminating period poverty and achieving period dignity for all by 2027 was coming soon. The minister also thanked campaigners and organisations who have supported the work, including FTWW. You can read the full transcript of the debate, here: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/13044#A75684

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