The silent wait: Why women deserve faster, specialist care

By Dr Hisham Abouzeid, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, Transform Femme

Across the UK, women are facing an unacceptable reality when it comes to their health.

From pelvic floor problems and heavy bleeding to chronic pain and postnatal complications, millions of women are living with treatable conditions that are simply not being treated, often for months or even years.

As a surgeon with more than 25 years’ experience, I have seen first-hand how delays in women’s health services affect every aspect of life, both physical and emotional.

Women come to me exhausted, frustrated and often embarrassed.

They are not just battling medical symptoms, they are struggling with the sense that their pain and their needs have been ignored for too long.

Right now, more than 750,000 women in the UK are waiting for hospital gynaecology services, including routine, non-cancer referrals.

In England alone, over 580,000 people are waiting for non-cancer gynaecology treatment, with almost half waiting well beyond the NHS target of 18 weeks.

Shockingly, more than 18,000 women have been waiting over a year.

These numbers are not just statistics. They represent women living with real suffering.

Research from Endometriosis UK found that 80 per cent of women waiting for treatment said their mental health had worsened, and 77 per cent said their work and daily lives had been affected.

These are mothers, daughters, partners and professionals whose pain is being normalised or dismissed.

The reasons for these delays are complex.

Overstretched NHS resources, lack of specialist provision and a system that often does not prioritise the specific needs of women’s health all play a part.

But the result is simple: women are waiting far too long to be heard, diagnosed and treated.

Women’s health issues are unique, deeply personal and often intertwined with hormonal, reproductive and emotional wellbeing.

They require the expertise of clinicians who not only understand the anatomy but also the impact that these conditions have on quality of life.

Specialist clinics can provide the focus and speed that general services struggle to deliver.

With dedicated gynaecologists and surgeons, we can diagnose and treat faster, offer continuity of care and, crucially, create a space where women feel seen and understood.

Delays in treatment do more than prolong discomfort. They allow conditions to worsen.

Pelvic floor damage can become irreversible, chronic pain can become debilitating, and emotional distress can spiral into anxiety or depression.

Early intervention does not just improve outcomes, it can change lives.

It is this urgent need for specialist, compassionate care that inspired the creation of Transform Femme, a new standalone UK service dedicated entirely to women’s health and wellbeing.

At Transform Femme, our aim is to give women rapid access to world-class surgical and non-surgical treatments delivered by leading GMC-registered surgeons and gynaecologists.

From pelvic floor repair and hysterectomy to labiaplasty and vaginal tightening, every procedure is delivered with precision, sensitivity and respect.

We believe in treating the whole person, not just the condition.

Our clinics provide luxurious, CQC-registered environments designed to promote comfort and calm.

Through Homecare+, patients can receive pre- and post-operative support in the privacy of their own homes.

With transparent, fixed pricing, there are no hidden costs or surprises, providing complete peace of mind.

Most importantly, we remove one of the biggest barriers to care: time.

Consultations, diagnostics and surgery can often take place within weeks, not months. For many women, that speed can be life-changing.

So many women suffer in silence with gynaecological issues that affect their confidence, health and everyday lives.

Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive space where women feel truly heard.

We combine medical expertise with empathy and professionalism, helping patients regain their comfort and most importantly their confidence

This ethos is shared by our entire team.

Every woman who walks through our doors deserves to be listened to without judgement and treated with the dignity and care she has often been denied elsewhere.

Specialist care for women is not just about medicine, it is about empowerment.

When women regain comfort, confidence and freedom from pain, they reclaim their lives. They reconnect with their partners, play with their children, return to work, and rediscover their sense of self.

Transform Femme is about more than procedures. It is about partnership, empathy and giving women back the confidence to live fully and freely.

We have reached a point in women’s healthcare where waiting should no longer be the norm. Women deserve timely, expert care that honours both their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Because when women are cared for properly, they do not just heal, they thrive.

About the author

Dr Hisham Abouzeid is a highly qualified with over 25 years of experience in women’s health and surgical procedures.

He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG).

For more information visit Transform Femme