Women's Health Wales Archives - FTWW

The First Minister and the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing are joined by members of the Women's Health Wales Coalition and FTWW Volunteers on the Senedd steps, smiling at the camera together

FTWW Statement on the NHS Wales 10-year Women’s Health Plan

October 11, 2024

We are delighted to be sharing this statement at such an exciting time for women’s health in Wales as a 10-year Plan is launched by the Welsh Government. Those who have followed FTWW over the ten years since our inception will know that we have long sought to raise awareness of the disparities in healthcare services and patient outcomes experienced by women and people registered female at birth. For ten years, we have heard countless stories of inequitable treatment from our members and wider network. We have provided a safe and validating space for fellow patients searching for answers as…

A graphic highlighting the importance of the UK General Election for women's health equality, particularly in Wales. The text directs to ftwww.org.uk for more information. Icons include a ballot box and megaphone.

What’s Wales got to do with it? Why the UK General Election Really Matters for Women’s Health Equality – and why Welsh Voices Count

July 1, 2024

A FTWW Blog As the UK General Election fast approaches, many of FTWW’s followers might be thinking that, as the NHS is devolved in Wales, there’s little that any new government in Westminster can do to address health inequities experienced by those we support. Partly, of course, they’d be right – the Senedd elections are incredibly important to us as an organisation focused on female health equality in Wales. But that’s not to say that the UK Government hasn’t got a huge amount of influence over our health-related experiences more generally. The Office for National Statistics reports that women may…

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…

Text reading Women’s Health Wales / Iehcyd Menywod Cymru on a purple background with arrows and equals symbols running through it.

Updates on the Development of a NHS Wales Women’s & Girls’ Health Plan

November 30, 2023

Earlier this month we Chaired the first Annual General Meeting of the third sector Women’s Health Wales Coalition, where we were pleased to hear updates from the new Welsh Government Women’s Health Policy Team. Assurances were given that a new National Clinical Strategic Network for Women’s Health is in the process of being set up. The Strategic Network will be responsible for developing and delivering a 10-year Women’s & Girls’ Health Plan for Wales, with a focus on NHS services. However, as gender health inequalities extend beyond this – into education, training, the workplace, and more – there will need…

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.

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…

Beth hands in the petition to the Senedd with Jenny Rathbone MS, supportive MSes and FTWWers

Don’t Delay, Vote Now! Endometriosis Petition to the Senedd Shortlisted for Petition of the Year

June 20, 2023

This month, voting opened on the Senedd’s Petition of the Year competition to recognise and celebrate the contribution of campaigners in Wales. FTWW is delighted to see that of volunteer, Beth, amongst the five notable petitions shortlisted by the Petitions Committee. The public is now being asked to vote for the one that has had the most impact on the people of Wales – closing date is 30th June. You can vote for Beth’s petition, ‘Improving Endometriosis Healthcare’ here.

#EmbracingEquity in female health – Our blog for WCVA

March 8, 2023

Thanks to WCVA for featuring our International Women’s Day blog, which explores the need to #EmbraceEquity in Health in Wales. FTWW’s members describe many & varied barriers to accessing optimum healthcare; our aim is to raise awareness and offer solutions! Read it here: https://wcva.cymru/views/embracingequity-in-female-health/

Endometriosis Action Month

Virtual Event – Endometriosis and The Women & Girls’ Health Plan

March 2, 2023

March is Endometriosis Action Month, and we are delighted to invite you to attend a virtual event on Thursday 23rd March from 6.00pm – 7.30pm. The event will be chaired by Jenny Rathbone MS. The focus of the event is on the NHS Wales and Welsh Government Women and Girls’ Health Plan for Wales and will be an opportunity to hear from a guest panel of experts and patients who will discuss what they would like to see included in the Plan which is currently under development and due for publication this year. Register for the event here. If you…

The Senedd building in Cardiff Bay

Members of the Senedd Echo FTWW Calls

January 28, 2023

We were encouraged this month to hear Members of the Senedd echo FTWW’s calls around Women’s Health during recent plenary sessions. On the 18th January, Heledd Fychan MS raised concerns around the gender health gap, lack of investment in female health, intersectionality and the impact of the pandemic on women’s health to the Health Minister in a question a bout the Women’s Health Plan. Plenary 18/01/2023 – Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales) Rhun ap Iorwerth MS also asked questions about the WHSSC’s suggested changes to fertility services in Wales, echoing concerns around the consultation and the risk of removing access to those…

An Asian woman is having a mammogram, supported by a white female medical professional

Welsh Government Publishes Women’s Health ‘Discovery Document’

January 21, 2023

As part of the Welsh Government’s work on the Women’s Health Plan, officials have released a ‘Discovery’ document, highlighting the work undertaken so far to understand the needs of women in Wales by asking what matters to them. As co-chairs of the Women’s Health Wales Coalition, which is made up of over 80 third sector organisations, Royal colleges, clinicians, and patients, we remain concerned that co-production with patients and public is properly embedded in all work related to the Women’s Health Plan and that Coalition members’ expertise is utilised throughout. This month we met with Welsh Government officials to share these concerns…

BBC Walescast – FTWW Joins Women’s Health Takeover

October 31, 2022

This month, FTWW’s Engagement Officer, Dee, appeared on BBC Wales News Walescast Women’s Health takeover. Hosted by BBC Wales News Health Reporter Jenny Rees, Dee was delighted to join Mrs Julie Cornish, who heads up Wales’ first Pelvic Health Hub at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and Dr Amara Naseem from Muslim Doctors Cymru to discuss health inequalities in Wales, and how they impact women, girls and those assigned female at birth. This programme ties in with BBC Wales’s coverage of the concerns raised by the #WomensHealthWales Coalition, which is co-chaired by FTWW and British Heart Foundation Cymru,…

Lara and Lisa presenting at the WMN Conference

Wales Menopause Network Conference

October 10, 2022

Da iawn and diolch to FTWW Menopause champions Lara Morris (left) and Lisa Nicholls for speaking about their patient experiences at the Wales Menopause Network inaugural conference on Saturday. FTWW’s Engagement Officer, Dee, also posed questions from our members to clinicians Dr Nadia Hikary-Bhal and Dr Jayne Forrester-Paton – although that session had to be cut short, Nadia and Jayne have kindly offered to respond to all of the questions, so we will be able to share that information with you soon. There were some really great discussions about research being planned in Wales which will look at menopause and longevity,…

Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment insufficient – BBC News

September 30, 2022

September is PCOS Awareness Month, and at the end of last month, BBC Wales discussed need for more research into PCOS in Wales, and FTWW Trustee, Julie Richards, was interviewed as part of their bilingual coverage. Read the full article here, and watch Ruth Roberts’ report here.

UK Health Radio’s Autistic Voices welcomes Willow

August 30, 2022

FTWW Trustee, Willow Holloway, recently featured on UK Health Radio’s Autistic Voices programme, hosted by Evalynne Charmer. Willow told Evalynne about her roles with FTWW, Autistic UK, the Autistic Women’s Empowerment Project, and Disability Wales, and about her lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic woman. Tune in here.

an IUD (coil) lies on a blue, pink and yellow background

ITV Wales News Covers Contraception Delays

August 12, 2022

There are concerns women are at risk of unwanted pregnancies in some parts of Wales due to “significant” delays within sexual health services, as reported by ITV Wales. FTWW told ITV News that it is “vital” that women are able to access the treatment they need “as soon as possible”. “’It’s important to realise that these devices can be used both for contraception and relief of symptoms from gynaecological health conditions. Issues like pelvic pain and heavy bleeding can have a really significant and detrimental impact on women’s lives and we know that many of those affected can find it…

A group of women standing together at the launch of the feminist scorecard

Gender Health Inequality Gets a Red Card in Feminist Scorecard

July 20, 2022

FTWW was pleased to be amongst a number of charities asked by WEN Wales and Oxfam Cymru to contribute insights to their Feminist Scorecard for 2022. The Scorecard aims to provide a series of snapshots of Welsh Government’s performance in six key areas for women’s equality in Wales and this year’s version illustrated that much needs to be done if Wales is to be a feminist nation, with FTWW volunteer, Beth, leading discussion on health inequalities at the Scorecard’s Community Launch on July 13th. Despite the ‘red card’ for health equality, FTWW is optimistic that a growing focus on women’s health…

Welsh Government Publishes its Quality Statement for Women and Girls’ Health

July 7, 2022

Tuesday, 5th July saw the Welsh Government publish its Quality Statement for Women & Girls’ Health which, we’re pleased to say, very much echoes the report published in May by the #WomensHealthWales Coalition, co-chaired by FTWW and British Heart Foundation Cymru. The Welsh Government’s Quality Statement is designed to provide all 7 health boards in Wales with its expectations of what good quality health services for women and girls should look like. Over the summer, the Welsh Government will embark on a range of engagement activities to co-produce a 10-year ‘action plan’ to achieve those expectations. We will keep you posted on how you…

Women’s Health Plan for Wales Launched by Third Sector Coalition

May 28, 2022

A report published by a coalition of charities and health organisations, on International Day of Action for Women’s Health, says women in Wales have poorer health outcomes than men and urgent action is needed to ensure they receive equal care and treatment. Leading the Women’s Health Wales coalition of over sixty charities, UK-wide umbrella organisations, Royal Colleges and patient representatives, British Heart Foundation BHF Cymru and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW) have today [Saturday 28th May 2022] published a Quality Statement which calls on Welsh Government to improve healthcare for women, girls and those assigned female at…

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