A CELEBRATION event showcasing the importance of women’s health in Dorset took place yesterday (Thursday).

Stakeholders were invited to hear how collaborative efforts to roll out the NHS England Women’s Health Strategy have developed locally.

The event, organised by Dorset Women CIC in conjunction with NHS Dorset and wider partners, was a full day of panel discussions, guest speakers, the launch of a new website and next steps.

Paul Johnson, NHS Dorset Chief Medical Officer, said: “This event is the culmination of a lot of hard work to raise the women’s health agenda in Dorset. It provided an opportunity to showcase the various projects that have been undertaken to date – from menopause webinars for healthcare workers, racial discrimination training to equip healthcare workers with the tools they need to have culturally competent conversations, to raising young people’s awareness of the HPV vaccination by visiting schools and colleges, not to mention the fantastic new website which local clinicians contributed to, and much more. But this is just the start of the journey. We plan to continue these efforts as more insight becomes available and further ideas emerge to support women and girls in Dorset.”

Marianne Storey, Chair of Dorset Women CIC, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together to celebrate the work that’s been undertaken, and talk about what happens next with women’s health. It’s such an important subject, we can’t let this slip off the agenda. This is just the beginning.”

Health experts at the event discussed menopause, pelvic health, mental health, gynaecology, and minority groups. They were:

  • Dr Sarah Hillier (Programme Leader, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition, Chair LGBTQ+ Staff Network at Bournemouth University)
  • Mr Tim Hillard (Consultant Gynaecologist, University Hospitals Dorset)
  • Miss Rowan Chambers (Menopause Support & Wellbeing Coach, and Founder and Director of Dorset Menopause Support CIC)
  • Christina Leadley (Team Lead and Clinical Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
  • Dr Linda Agyemang (Senior Lecturer – Adult Nursing – University of Bournemouth)
  • Jagoda Banovic (Perinatal Service Manager, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust)
  • Sandra Healey (Senior Service Lead, NHS Dorset Talking Therapies – Steps2Wellbeing)
  • Meherzin Das (Chief Psychological Professions Officer, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust)
  • Dr Joanna Yilmaz (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Maternal Mental Health Service)
  • Mr Daniel Webster (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust)

Key national colleagues also attended to hear about the work undertaken in Dorset:

  • Tara Isles (Policy Advisor, Women’s Health Programme, NHS England)
  • Elizabeth Streeter (Senior Policy Advisor, Women’s Health Programme, NHS England)
  • David Richmond (Clinical Lead, NHS England South West)

Representatives from Health Innovation Wessex also shared their reflections about what innovation has been adopted during the programme and their role in supporting this activity.

Associate Director Leah Gallon, and programme managers Patrick Arnold and Nicky Smith, discussed how Health Innovation Wessex has supported the Women’s Health work in Dorset, including the delivery of seven innovations which will support women of Dorset with more access to information, education, and access to care.

Wider women’s health programme partners in Dorset are Bournemouth University, Wessex Health Partners, Dorset Healthcare University Trust, Dorset County Hospital, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and the Dorset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership.

Ends

Photograph/video: Pictured from left to right – Christina Leadley, Tara Isles, Lizzie Streeter, Marianne Storey, David Richmond, Helen Crook (programme manager), Tim Hillard, and Bournemouth University Lecturer Professor Carol Clark.

For more information about the national programme visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-million-for-womens-health-hub-expansion