On average, women live longer than men but spend more of their life in poor health.

Addressing this disparity is not straightforward but in a major new strategy, released last month, the Government has set out bold plans to do just this by tackling deep-rooted, systemic issues within the health and care system.

It will build upon action the Government has already taken to improve health services and outcomes for women and girls such as:

= banning virginity testing and hymenoplasty,

= abolishing the tampon tax,

= rolling out free sanitary products in schools, colleges and hospitals,

= investing £300 million in family hubs,

= establishing the UK Menopause Taskforce,

= strengthening protections for domestic abuse victims, investing more than £200 million to expand neonatal care capacity and recruit an extra 1,200 midwives and 100 consultant obstetricians.

The new Women’s Health Strategy for England will go much further and has been shaped by a major consultation which included feedback from almost 100,000 women and girls about their experiences of our healthcare system.

Themes of not being listened to and a lack of understanding and compassion around issues affecting women were prevalent throughout, and many described blatant sexist and misogynistic treatment by healthcare professionals. The new strategy includes:

= Teaching and assessments on women’s health in undergraduate curricula for graduating medical students from 2024-25 and for all incoming doctors.

= New investment in additional breast screening services.

= Improving access to support services for women and girls affected by domestic abuse.

= Removing barriers to IVF for female same-sex couples.

= Expanding Women’s Health Hubs and other models of ‘one-stop clinics’ that bring essential women’s services together.

= Recognising parents who have lost a child before 24 weeks through the introduction of a pregnancy loss certificate.

= Improving specialist endometriosis services.

= Commissioning urgent research into healthcare professionals’ experiences of listening to women, with a focus on menstrual and gynaecological symptoms.

= Investing in research on women’s health issues including a new policy research unit on reproductive health, plans to address data gaps, and identifying barriers to women participating in research.

Ensuring this strategy is a success will soon be on the to-do-list of our next Prime Minister. I have been backing Rishi Sunak and have explained why at www.melstridemp.com/ready4rishi