Liverpool Women’s Health Strategy

The ‘State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040’ report shows the poor and declining health of women. Women in Liverpool live six years longer in poor health compared to the national average. The health of women living in the poorest parts of the city is worse. If nothing changes, these inequalities will only get worse by 2040. The health of women is important so that they can thrive, care for their families, participate in the workforce and contribute to economic growth and fully contribute to society. Creating a Women’s Health Strategy was identified as a key priority. The goal is to find ways to improve health in Liverpool by working together with local groups. ​

A Women’s Health Taskforce has been set up to develop a system-wide Women’s Health Strategy for Liverpool to improve health outcomes. The Taskforce includes key groups from around the city, like community and voluntary organisations, academics, and the NHS. The Taskforce has gathered evidence and insight about women’s health in Liverpool to inform the next steps. Listening to women’s voices is crucial to understanding their needs and finding solutions. Through workshops and a survey, we’ve gathered valuable insight from local groups who work directly with women and girls in the city. More than 30 representatives from community and voluntary groups took part in a workshop and survey. They discussed the challenges women face in Liverpool and the barriers that stop them from getting the care and support they need. There was representation from a wide range of organisations who support women who are disadvantaged, e.g. through poverty, ethnic minority groups, victims of violence and modern slavery, women with disabilities, drug and alcohol dependence, the care-experienced, homelessness, sex-workers and women in contact with the criminal justice system. The workshop and survey identified good practices and areas that need improvement. The insights will help form recommendations and a plan for change. ​

Ongoing work will be carried out to ensure that women’s voices are informing action. For example, insight work will be carried out to improve the inequalities in access to menopausal care in the city. Next steps include consultation on a plan of action to improve health. There is a huge amount of work already happening in the city that can influence health. We want to make that all strategies, programs of work and policies consider the needs and impacts on women. The plan will focus on prevention, better access to health services, and ensure women’s voices are heard in policy and service design. The plan will also make use of the city’s assets like women’s health hubs and family hubs.