The Government have published a call for evidence to collect the views on women’s health - the Women’s Health Strategy.
The Women’s Health Strategy for England will have an ambitious and positive new agenda on women’s health, with women’s voices at the centre.
Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health, has written, “For generations, women have lived with a health and care system that is mostly designed by men, for men.” which is so true.
He also states that not enough is known about conditions that only affect women, or about how conditions that affect both men and women impact women in different ways.
He urges women to come forward and have their say and this is the perfect opportunity for you all to tell him how thyroid disease is affecting your life.
Nadine Dorries, Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care states that one of her key priorities is women’s health. She firmly believes that the provision of high-quality information and education is imperative.
The Government want “to understand more about issues that only affect women (for example, gynaecological conditions or menstrual health) and also issues that affect both men and women but may be more prevalent in women or affect men and women differently.”
This consultation is in the form of a survey that is open to anyone over the age of 16. Individuals, clinicians, researchers and patient organisations are welcome to submit evidence and so we will be contributing to this survey with a very full explanation of how thyroid disease is predominantly affecting women; how dissatisfied we are about the treatment for hypothyroidism; how we are being refused the medication that makes us well; how we are not being listened to; how it affects our mental health and our physical health and how this affects our family, work and social lives.
Do please participate in this survey as it is the perfect opportunity for you to tell them exactly how it is! Do mention exactly what it is affecting i.e. mental health.
You can also submit data, research and other reports of relevance (maximum 10 pages).
To read more information about this consultation go to:
My daughter has been admitted urgently a few times over the years - always asks for pj bottoms that the men wear - always denied and offered a gown open at the back.
Thanks Lyn and 'yes' I think we should put forward our viewpoints.
You have stated the pertinent points that we, the patients, have to go through only to be told 'no you cannot have that prescribed
Particularly the fact that we aren't permitted to source options of thyroid hormone replacements that may relieve our clinical symptoms, or will we still be told that a prescription will have to be presented to provide for them?
Many endocrinologists may not prescribe so it would be a waste of time for the patient or the endo if we cannot even get a trial of an option to levothyroxine.
It's about time they let women give information that may allow them to recover their health (if they're listened to). Also to allow them to get options provided if they aren't improving or getting more clinical symptoms when hypothyroid.
Have completed it and given my opinion on poor thyroid treatment and lack of t3 in the prescribing regime. Whether any of our response will be listened to remains to be seen !
Just tried to take part in this survey and got as far as the second question which is “Where are you completing this survey from?” To which I answered “Wales” and got thanked and shut down... Apparently, this is for England only... 🤔
I thought I'd have a look and got to the location question.
Whoever "designed" it was having an unfunny laugh. The options are:
⚪ England ⚪ Scotland ⚪ Wales ⚪ Northern Ireland ⚪ Outside of England
Even if they wanted to know which home country you are in, and reject you if that is not England, expressing, the option of "Outside of England" as an exclusive option is rather odd. It somehow gives the impression that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all NOT Outside of England.
Marie Antoinette managed to get her voice heard - then and, ironically, even now.
Didn't do her much good in the end.
I find a certain awkwardness in the "their own care" phrasing. As a male, he obviously cannot write "our own care", but "their" makes it something other, not him and his responsibility.
I guess it's like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it! If we don't make our voices heard in this consultation, then they will definitely won't hear us...
I have completed the survey (including the fact that some men suffer of course). Emphasised the need for more testing, and access to certain hormone treatment. Regarding Thyroiditis, Hashimotos and Graves. Hence the need for this forum. (did not mention the name)
This is a start. We have never been asked to comment before have we? Now it’s up to us to keep the pressure on and fight for what we believe we are entitled to. Glad you did the survey 😁
I have competed it too but I did it in 2 parts, topics and then research etc. I wanted to let my views on T3 prescribing heard. I think that they will have lots of other things brought up and thyroid care may not have enough responses for the powers that be to take particular note but we have to take these opportunities to air our grievances when they arise.
Thank you for bringing the survey to our attention. OK, we start with England - you've got to start somewhere and actually I've found a more sympathetic approach to NDT prescribing in Wales than in England so far (I've just moved house). The main thing is to accept the invitation to give our view. BTW - I have recommended the powers-that-be contact Thyroid UK direct as being the go-to source for information and help on Thyroid issues. Thank you, thank you for your valuable support Thyroid UK.
Completed it, let them what I think of GP’s and their lack of knowledge. That they think one glove fits all in their treatment plans, whereas we are all different and respond differently to different things and most importantly when that treatment plan doesn’t work there is nothing else offered. I also mentioned the labs dictating which thyroid tests are done. I particularly went to town on dismissive behaviour and gaslighting.
Hopefully somebody will take notice of repeating comments from different people and change may come...eventually.
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If we don't make our voices heard in this consultation, then they will definitely won't hear us...
Women’s Health Strategy Call for Evidence. Let them know how health and social care are working for you.
For info: Just had a big rant on government survey on women's health
