• Healthwatch Bracknell Forest, Healthwatch Slough, and Healthwatch Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead heard from 580 women in this project to explore women’s views about local NHS services for women’s health (excluding maternity care). 507 filled in the survey. 73 attended focus groups facilitated with the intention of hearing views from women of Asian heritage, who were less heard in the national Women’s Health Strategy survey.
  • Women told us they had a good experience of services when they experienced quick appointments, helpful communication, compassionate care provided by various healthcare professionals, felt heard and understood, and received good information.
  • Many women found it difficult to get the care they need because they could not access GP appointments as a first port of call, had long waiting times for referrals, were given incorrect or no information, were not listened to or treated with respect and could not find the necessary support or services.
  • Dedicated resources are needed for women's health, including translated information resources and suitably trained interpreters - culturally sensitive, evidence-based information and access to wellbeing resources and peer support is valued
  • GPs have an important role to play whether in providing women's health hubs or referring women to them - if hubs are not going ahead, women still need to access female-specific services that hubs were intended to bring together and provide.
  • Women had valuable ideas for improvements to women’s healthcare including more timely access to appointments and information and support for a community-based hub where they could seek peer support and wellbeing services alongside healthcare.
  • Most women would like to continue seeking support for their women’s health from their local GP, however it was noted that some practices do not have knowledgeable staff or availability of services such as cervical screening or IUD fitting so access is inequitable.
  • Our Healthwatch recommendations invite the NHS to act on these findings and to co-produce all service changes with local women.

 

The full report will be published here in early August 2025. If you would like to discuss the report please contact claire.shropshall@healthwatchwam.co.uk