Women’s Health

Key Findings

• Women reported positive experiences when they had quick appointments, clear communication, compassionate care, felt heard, and received helpful information.
• Many women struggled to get the care they needed due to difficulty accessing GP appointments, long referral waits, poor information, feeling unheard or disrespected, and lack of support or services.
• Dedicated resources for women’s health are needed, including translated materials, trained interpreters, culturally sensitive information, and access to wellbeing support and peer networks.
• GPs play a key role in delivering or referring to women’s health services—if hubs aren’t available, women still need access to the joined-up care those hubs were meant to offer.
• Women suggested improving timely access to appointments and creating community-based hubs offering peer support, wellbeing services, and healthcare.
• Most women prefer getting women’s health support from their GP, but uneven staff expertise and service availability make access inconsistent

We recommend the NHS act on these findings and co-produce service changes with local women.

Here’s what women from all three areas had to say in their own words.

“I'm very nervous to talk on the phone when I phone my doctor, I can't make them understand me easily, it's much better if I can speak to someone face to face.” Bracknell Forest resident

“I had to wait a while to have the coil replaced after it came out from a heavy bleed. Only one GP at the doctors can do this surgery so I had to wait as she is on holiday. In the meantime, they have put me on the pill.” Slough resident

“Women's exercise classes are really good, and I'd like to see more of those. There are some classes that happen at the centre and that could be another place to give information and support.” Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead resident