51 per cent of the population are women, and while on average women live longer they spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health when compared with men. The Women’s Health Strategy highlights that the majority of women have felt unheard by healthcare professionals for far too long. Research on women’s health has also been left behind. The economic case for change is stark: severe period pain costs the UK £3.7 billion annually in absenteeism, while severe perimenopause and menopause symptoms are estimated to result in £191 million in lost productivity per year.

This thought-provoking session will be an opportunity to hear from Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women’s health, and the Women’s Health Ambassador for England, about the ambitions of the Women’s Health Programme to reduce health inequalities and improve women’s health across the lifecourse. ICB leaders will share the innovative work they are doing to improve access and care for women through collaborative commissioning, digital technology and integrated care at the neighbourhood level via women's health hubs.

This session will review how the ‘three shifts’ can be implemented to drive improvements in women’s health, and draw out learning in how women's health can translate to other policy areas.