UK women question government plans for women’s health strategy

A quarter of women in the UK are questioning the government’s plans for a women’s health strategy, a new survey has found days before the general election. 

The survey, conducted by the women’s charity Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI), has revealed the key topics women felt are most important for MPs to address ahead of the UK’s general election on Thursday.

Of the 482 women surveyed, all SIGBI members, 85 per cent felt one of the most pressing issue is funding domestic abuse services for women and children.

According to ONS data, more than one million women in the UK experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023.

The other areas Soroptimists placed in their top three topics for government attention were how the government would develop a women’s health strategy (65 per cent), how the government would ensure the efforts of volunteers, charities, and civic society are valued and maintained (43 per cent) and how the government would bring more girls in the tech sector (41 per cent).

A quarter of respondents cited the development of a women’s health strategy as their top concern.

“While women make up 51 per cent of the UK electorate, they only make up 35 per cent of members of the House of Commons,” said Ruth Healey, president of SIGBI.

“There is nowhere near enough parliamentary representation, and this needs to change. Having more females in government is crucial, as this helps to ensure that legislation and policies are inclusive of women and girls’ needs and concerns.

“And in order to secure women’s votes, politicians will need to clearly communicate how they aim to address the challenges facing the 51 per cent, and how the lives of women and girls are at the heart of their policies.”

In 2022, the BMA reported that the UK has the widest gender health gap in the G20. And while women make up 50 per cent of the UK workforce, only 24 per cent of tech roles are occupied by women.

“Domestic abuse services, women’s health strategy development, and involving more girls in tech are all women-specific issues needing more focus and funding from the government,” said Ruth.

“The catalogue of stark statistics and our survey results combined clearly show more attention is needed in these areas and that women across the country want, and deserve, answers from MPs.”