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SIA welcomes landmark announcements on women’s health
The Spinal Injuries Association has welcomed the Government’s new commitments to include menopause in routine NHS Health Checks and to renew the Women’s Health Strategy to tackle longstanding inequalities in women’s healthcare.
Statement from the Spinal Injuries Association
“Today’s announcements from the Government mark a huge step forward for women’s health and a major victory for our women’s health campaign.
For far too long, disabled women have been invisible in national health strategies. The renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy, with a clear focus on breaking down barriers for all women and tackling longstanding inequalities in women’s healthcare, finally recognises that women with spinal cord injury and other long-term conditions deserve equal access to care and support.
The decision to include menopause in routine NHS Health Checks is another landmark moment. It sends a powerful message that women’s menstrual and reproductive health matters, and that it must be understood in the context of every woman’s life, including those living with disability.
This is an important turning point. We now have an opportunity to shape a healthcare system that recognises and responds to the full range of women’s experiences, ensuring that disabled women are included, heard, and supported at every stage of their lives.”
Women with spinal cord injuries and other long-term conditions (such as multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, and Parkinson’s disease) face significant challenges in accessing the healthcare they need. Despite advancements in medical care and policy commitments to equality, too many women with disabilities continue to be excluded from mainstream health services, left navigating a system that fails to recognize and meet their unique needs.