womens 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…

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…

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?

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…

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…

Llais: First 100 Days

August 16, 2023

Since April 2023 the people of Wales have had a new independent body to help shape health and social care services. Llais has been set up by the Welsh Government to raise the power and influence of the voices of people living in Wales, and we regularly recommend them to members of our community who feel a struggle to be heard. FTWW is delighted to be having regular meetings with them to discuss ‘all things women’s health’. In the meantime, you can read about their first 100 days, 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.

Every Woman: A Women's Health Festival

FTWW at The Every Woman Festival

April 28, 2023

We are delighted to be speaking at the Every Woman Festival, taking place at Insole Court in Cardiff on Saturday 24th. Hosted by Julie Cornish, the event seeks to empower and support women, and those assigned female at birth, on health topics that may be difficult or considered taboo to talk about. Dee will be delivering a talk entitled ‘Endometriosis and Adenomyosis: Yes, I have tried Yoga; No, it’s not all in my head! How learning from experts by experience can improve diagnostic delay’. Find out more and book tickets here.

Jack Sargeant MS, Huw Irranca-Davies, John Griffiths MS and Dee Montague-Coast from FTWW

Endometriosis Action Month at The Senedd

April 4, 2023

March was one of our busiest Endometriosis Action Months yet! Engagement Officer Dee and Endometriosis UK’s Lizzie were joined by volunteers Rachel Joseph and Lowri Shepstone at a drop-in event at The Senedd for Senedd Members. The event was well attended, with so many Members keen to learn more and better support their constituents. We were delighted that Huw Irranca-Davies, Labour MS for Ogmore (pictured), followed up with a debate in the Senedd.

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…

Rebel Bodies: A guide to the gender health gap revolution

January 20, 2023

This month saw the release of Sarah Graham’s debut book, Rebel Bodies: A Guide to the Gender Health Gap Revolution – and you can read an exclusive extract in The i Paper! The extract focuses on endometriosis and includes the battle to get diagnosed by our Engagement Officer, Dee. The article also highlights the work of FTWW and others in campaigning for mandatory menstrual wellbeing education here in Wales, and our work in advising Welsh Government. We are delighted to be included in this vital, inclusive book, and we’d like to recommend it to anyone with an interest in, or lived experience…

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…

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…

Behind the Health Statistic

Adenomyosis Awareness Month: Behind the Health Statistic

April 14, 2022

FTWW Volunteer, Lara, hosts the Women’s Health Series of Cardiff University’s ‘Behind the Health Statistic’, and the second episode focuses on Adenomyosis – timely as April is Adenomyosis Awareness Month! Our Engagement Officer, Dee, shares her experiences of the condition, which occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. We’re sharing a link to Spotify, but you can find the episode – and the series – on all major podcast platforms.

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