Almost 600,000 people in England are waiting for gynecological treatment, figures show
The government has been accused of “prioritising women’s health” as analysis shows almost 600,000 women in England are waiting for gynecological treatment, a rise of a third in two years.
There are 33,000 women waiting more than a year for such treatment, an increase of 43%, according to a Labor analysis based on data from the House of Commons library.
It found that there is no region in England that meets the government’s cervical cancer screening target of 80% coverage, with just over two-thirds of women (68.7%) having been screened in the last five and a half years .
Also, one in four women (26%) with suspected breast cancer waited more than fourteen days before visiting a specialist in the period up to September 2023.
Less than two-thirds (66.4%) of eligible women have been screened for breast cancer in the last three years, with only two English regions meeting the 70% coverage target.
The NHS target in England is for 92% of patients to have a treatment referral time of less than 18 weeks.
The figures come after the government pledged to end decades of gender-based health inequalities through a new women’s health strategy in England.
The analysis suggests that access to cervical cancer screening and gynecological treatment in England is a ‘postcode lottery’.
In London, only three-fifths (61.3%) of eligible women have been screened for cervical cancer, while in the North East of England almost three-quarters (72.5%) of women have done so.
Anneliese Dodds, shadow women and equalities secretary, said: “The Conservatives’ deprioritisation of women’s health is nothing short of outrageous.
“Rishi Sunak and the Tories’ reckless failure with our NHS is exposing millions of women to pain, misery or worse. They have failed all those women who were on waiting lists, or waited nervously for weeks to see a cancer specialist.
“Labour will get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future with the staff, technology and reforms it needs, and end the deprioritisation of women’s health once and for all.”
Beth Vincent, health information manager for Cancer Research UK, said: “Thousands of cancer patients across England face unacceptable delays in starting cancer treatment every month. Despite the best efforts of NHS staff, our healthcare system simply does not have enough equipment and people to see, test and treat everyone in a timely manner.
“With a general election looming, there is an opportunity for all political parties to tackle these issues, by providing the NHS with more staff and equipment, alongside reforms to cancer services. It is the least that cancer patients deserve.”
She added: “Despite these challenges, it is important to remember that GPs want to see women if they have any concerns.
“If you notice something that is not good for you, contact your doctor. It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, catching it early means treatment is likely to be successful.”
Bridget Little, head of support services at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “Every day two women die in Britain from cancer that is largely preventable. across Britain are very worrying.
“We have an incredible opportunity to eradicate cervical cancer in Britain within a generation, but this will only be achieved with effective strategies that recognize and correct the UK’s widespread health inequalities.”
Maria Caulfield, the Minister for Women, said: “The Government has made women’s health a top priority and is driving a women’s health strategy that delivers a better standard of care for women and girls, and is taking action to raise awareness. support and research into gynecological disorders.
“We have achieved a huge amount in the first year of the strategy, including new women’s health pages on the NHS website, investing £25 million in women’s health centres, improving access to hormone replacement therapy and encouraging research into women’s health.”