- Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, has warned that "medical misogyny" within the NHS is causing women's health conditions to be deprioritised.
- She highlighted that chronic and debilitating conditions such as endometriosis are not receiving adequate attention, leading to women waiting too long for routine procedures and subsequently clogging up A&E departments.
- As of January 2026, over 565,134 women were awaiting gynaecology services in England, with only 56 per cent being seen within the national 18-week target, making it one of the worst-performing specialities.
- Emergency admissions for gynaecology have surged, with many women presenting at A&E with acute symptoms like anaemia or needing blood transfusions due to delayed treatment for conditions like fibroids and endometriosis.
- Ahead of the government's new Women's Health Strategy, Dr Wright called for the introduction of women's health hubs, which could combine GPs and specialist care, to reduce the need for hospital treatment.
IN FULL
Women waiting too long for NHS care because of ‘medical misogyny’, top doctor warns
