Last month, Chamber UK and 50:50 Parliament hosted a โWelcome to Parliamentโ event for newly elected MPs, focusing on womenโs health. Several MPs, health professionals, and campaigners highlighted the current issues surrounding womenโs health and the urgent need to address them. This event was kindly sponsored by Bayer, a leader in both pharmaceuticals and agricultural solutions, which has a long-standing commitment to improving women’s health through innovation and advocacy.
This article details a keynote speech made by Former Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health, Preet Kaur Gill MP, who discussed the persistent challenges in womenโs health, the progress made, and the critical actions needed to close the gender health gap.
Honouring Women’s Health Pioneers
Preet Kaur Gill began her speech by paying tribute to the trailblazing women who have shaped the course of womenโs health in the UK. She mentioned the remarkable achievements of Dame Hilda Nora Lloyd, who made history as the first woman to be elected president of a UK medical royal college. Lloydโs pioneering work in obstetrics and gynaecology, particularly her role in combating the epidemic of maternal deaths in the 1930s, serves as a reminder of how far we have comeโand how much further we still need to go.
Kaur Gill emphasised the importance of remembering these pioneers as we continue the fight to improve womenโs health, noting that today’s challenges, though different in nature, are no less urgent.
The Ongoing Battle Against the Gender Health Gap
Despite the progress made, Kaur Gill highlighted the ongoing struggles women face in the healthcare system. The UK continues to have one of the largest female health gaps in the world, particularly within the G20 nations. Women remain underrepresented in clinical trials, and many feel that their voices are not adequately heard by medical professionals.
One of the most pressing issues Kaur Gill addressed is the dire state of maternity care. She cited alarming NHS data, which reveals that 600,000 women are currently on waiting lists for hospital-based gynaecological services, with nearly 36,000 waiting more than a year for an appointment. Such delays are unacceptable and reflect a system in need of urgent reform.
Labour’s Commitment to Women’s Health
Kaur Gill took the opportunity to outline Labourโs ambitious plans to address these challenges. She expressed her support for Labourโs pledge to reverse the concerning trends in maternity care by training thousands more midwives and health visitors. Additionally, Labour aims to incentivise continuity of care for women throughout their pregnancies, ensuring that every woman receives the support she needs.
A key point in her speech was the focus on ending the black maternal mortality gap, which she described as a moral imperative. Black mothers in the UK are four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterpartsโa statistic that must be urgently addressed.
Turning Intentions into Action
Kaur Gill concluded her speech by acknowledging the strides that have been made, such as the publication of the first-ever Womenโs Health Strategy for England. However, she was clear in her message: good intentions are not enough. The time has come to translate these intentions into tangible actions that will have a real impact on womenโs health outcomes.
She called on the new parliament to commit to making womenโs health a priority, urging MPs and health professionals alike to work together to close the gender health gap once and for all.
Final Thought
Preet Kaur Gillโs speech at the โWelcome to Parliamentโ event was a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges in women’s health. While there has been progress, the significant gaps in care and representation highlight the urgent need for continued advocacy and action. As she rightly pointed out, this new parliament has the opportunity to make a real difference. It is now up to policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public to work together to ensure that womenโs health is no longer an afterthought, but a priority in the UKโs healthcare agenda.
Bayer has provided sponsorship funding, which supported logistics and materials for this event. Chamber maintained complete editorial control for the event and outputs.
To watch the full video of Preet’s speech, please click below. Subscribe to Chamber UK’s YouTube channel to watch all outputs from the event!