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It can be argued women are the backbone of families, communities, and society as a whole. We provide care and support, nurture our families, and still play a primary role in the care of children, our spouses and our ageing parents.
However, when we dig under the surface of healthcare in the UK, there is an undeniable and unacceptable imbalance in health equity specific to female based care.
The UK is thought to have the largest female health gap among G20 countries, and the 12th largest globally, with eight out of ten women in the UK feel they’re not listened to by healthcare professionals.
The reality of the gender health gap
Healthcare systems have historically been designed with men as the default patient, both in clinical practice and medical research.
For decades we have known that, biologically, women have different medical needs to men as we are subject to different hormonal pathways which play a significant role in how our bodies operate, the symptoms we show, and how we react to different medication and treatment options. Yet still the odds are stacked against us.
The classic example often given is heart attack symptoms; women are much more likely to get fewer commonly known symptoms and sometimes even the absence of obvious chest discomfort.
With women being underrepresented, including being excluded from many clinical trials in the past, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment outcomes are not clearly understood. The question raised here is – will this really change any time soon?
The longer term impact
Females make up 51 per cent of the UK population so, why are we not doing more and empowering women to take more control over their health on a global scale?
At 2San, we have recently undertaken consumer research in order to gain further insight into how people are managing their own healthcare journeys – and crucially what are the barriers to people accessing support.
Sadly, we found one in three women have avoided going to a GP because wait times are too long or it’s too challenging to get an appointment. This could have serious ramifications on women’s long-term health.
Whether through personal experience or stories from friends and family, there is a genuine belief within the female community that symptoms aren’t taken as seriously as their male counterparts. For example, it can take a woman up to eight years, and over ten GP appointments, to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis and see a specialist.
This is backed up by our recent research which found 25 per cent of women have avoided going to see their GP because they don’t want to be seen as wasting their time with a perceived small issue.
On multiple fronts, women are against all odds from lower representation in clinical trials, lack of research and development specific to women’s health, access to care, and lastly having a real belief that if they do finally get access, they won’t be taken seriously.
When we know the benefits of health equity across the genders for society as a whole, it makes you question why we are not being more proactive or adapting the healthcare processes to ensure everyone who has a health concern feels they can get the help, access and early support they need.
Is there a solution?
The short answer is there is not one solution – we need a large-scale review of healthcare in the UK and globally, better research and education into the differences between biological males and females alongside different races and ethnicities, and more accurate information which needs to then flow into wider society disease management.
In the short term, we need to educate on alternative first steps on the healthcare journey – moving away from the current model to one which puts the power of healthcare back into the community and back into the patient’s hands. Let the individual be empowered and own their health and wellbeing.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), for example, impact around 50 per cent of women. The average wait time for a non-urgent, face-to-face appointment is around ten days, but UTI symptoms usually only last around a week.
When not treated, UTIs can cause long term complications, such as repetitive occurrences and serious kidney infections. With new legislation from the UK government coupled with the ability to take a urinary tract infection test at home, pharmacists can prescribe a course of antibiotics or medication and people can receive necessary medical support without the need to see a GP.
Working with 2San has opened my eyes to the possibilities. As we continue to research and develop the possibilities of at-home tests, the healthcare system will evolve. Patients will become more educated and empowered so when they talk to a medical professional, they feel armed with all the necessary information.
Access to support and specialists can be triaged at a community level, saving hours of precious healthcare professionals’ time and re-allocating it to those who need it the most.
What’s more, we hope people will be able to detect serious conditions earlier – especially in instances where early-stage detection can really make a difference in overall outcomes and survival in the case of cancer.
The more steps we take in the right direction to close the gender health gap and secure health equity across the board, the better healthcare all people will receive.
There is still a lot of work to be done and the onus is on all of us to drive and push for change, for better care, better lives and a stronger healthcare system which supports us all. Health for all, now that’s a novel idea!
Valerie Palmieri is a clinical executive leader and scientific advisor at the healthcare company 2San.
