First published: 20/08/2024
In a powerful keynote speech delivered at the recent ‘Welcome to Parliament’ event, hosted by Chamber UK and 50:50 Parliament, Preet Kaur Gill MP, Former Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health, called for urgent action to address the persistent challenges in women’s health. The event, which gathered newly elected MPs, health professionals, and campaigners, centred on the critical issues facing women in the UK’s healthcare system. The initiative was sponsored by Bayer, a company with a long-standing commitment to advancing women’s health through innovation and advocacy.
Honouring Women’s Health Pioneers
Kaur Gill began her address by paying tribute to the pioneering women who have shaped the course of women’s health in the UK. She highlighted the legacy of Dame Hilda Nora Lloyd, the first woman to be elected president of a UK medical royal college, whose groundbreaking work in obstetrics and gynaecology in the 1930s played a crucial role in reducing maternal deaths. Lloyd’s contributions, Kaur Gill noted, serve as both a reminder of the progress made and a stark illustration of how much further the fight for women’s health must go.
“These trailblazers paved the way for the advancements we see today,” Kaur Gill said. “But as we honour their legacy, we must also acknowledge the significant challenges that remain.”
The Ongoing Battle Against the Gender Health Gap
Kaur Gill’s speech emphasised the ongoing disparities in women’s healthcare. Despite advancements, the UK continues to struggle with one of the largest female health gaps among G20 nations. Women remain underrepresented in clinical trials, and many feel that their healthcare concerns are not adequately addressed by medical professionals.
One of the most urgent issues Kaur Gill highlighted was the state of maternity care. Citing NHS data, she pointed out that 600,000 women are currently on waiting lists for hospital-based gynaecological services, with nearly 36,000 waiting more than a year for an appointment. These delays, she argued, are unacceptable and indicative of a healthcare system in dire need of reform.
Labour’s Commitment to Women’s Health
During her speech, Kaur Gill outlined Labour’s ambitious plans to address these healthcare challenges. She reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to reversing the troubling trends in maternity care by training thousands more midwives and health visitors. Labour also aims to ensure continuity of care throughout pregnancies, ensuring that women receive consistent and comprehensive support.
A particularly impassioned part of Kaur Gill’s address was her focus on ending the black maternal mortality gap, which she described as a “moral imperative.” Black mothers in the UK are four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts—a disparity that demands immediate attention and action.
Turning Intentions into Action
While acknowledging the progress marked by the publication of the first-ever Women’s Health Strategy for England, Kaur Gill was unequivocal in her message: intentions alone are not enough. She called on the new parliament to transform these intentions into concrete actions that will make a real difference in women’s health outcomes.
“The time has come for us to move from words to deeds,” she declared. “We must work together to close the gender health gap once and for all.”
Final Thoughts
Preet Kaur Gill’s speech at the ‘Welcome to Parliament’ event served as a compelling reminder of the significant gaps that still exist in women’s healthcare. While progress has been made, the disparities in care and representation underscore the urgent need for continued advocacy and concrete action.
As Kaur Gill pointed out, this new parliament has a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on women’s health. It is now up to policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public to ensure that women’s health is elevated from an afterthought to a priority in the UK’s healthcare agenda.
The event, supported by Bayer, highlighted the critical need for collaboration and innovation in addressing these pressing issues. Chamber UK maintained full editorial control over the event and its outputs, ensuring that the focus remained on advocating for meaningful change in women’s health.
To view the full video of Preet Kaur Gill’s speech, visit Chamber UK’s YouTube channel and subscribe for more content from the event.
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