The Women’s Health Strategy has received accolades as it marks its one-year anniversary, with significant measures announced to enhance the health and well-being of women and girls. Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, has voiced her support for these initiatives, particularly applauding actions aimed at supporting those who have endured the tragedy of baby loss.
Since the launch of the Women’s Health Strategy last year, hundreds of thousands of women have directly benefited from its provisions. Building on this success, the government is expanding its efforts by introducing a dedicated women’s health section on the NHS website.
This new online resource will consolidate information on over 100 topics related to women’s health and will complement a newly established Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) hub on the website. Notably, since the launch, over 300,000 HRT certificates have been issued, resulting in average savings of approximately £30 per person for a year’s supply.
Furthermore, the government is extending its support for the well-being of women who have experienced the heartbreak of baby loss. This support includes issuing a comprehensive response to the findings published by the independent Pregnancy Loss Review, which assessed the care and support available to women when baby loss occurs before 24 weeks gestation.
Starting from October, parents who suffer the loss of a baby before 24 weeks will have the option to apply for a certificate of baby loss. These certificates will serve as official documentation recognizing pregnancy loss and offering assistance to grieving parents during their unimaginable ordeal. The certificate will undergo a trial phase involving 1,000 bereaved families during the summer, enabling them to provide feedback on the application process and receive a certificate themselves.
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, expressed her delight at celebrating the Women’s Health Strategy’s first anniversary, highlighting its impact, including increased access to affordable Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and the establishment of new women’s health hubs nationwide. She also commended the Department for Health and Social Care’s new measures aimed at enhancing the well-being of women and girls, particularly those designed to support individuals coping with the tragedy of baby loss.
Saxby emphasized the significance of women’s health and the Women’s Health Strategy in her role as the first female MP for North Devon, pledging to continue advocating for these issues daily.
