Can You Hear Us?
There is no doubt that the National Health Service is unique in the world of healthcare. Inaugurated in 1948, it was created by the British government to provide medical care “from the cradle to the grave” for everyone, regardless of income. Yet the history of the NHS is peppered with highs and lows. The media is quick to seize on the lows — when people die or are harmed through poor practice — leaving public confidence dented. The highs are far less reported, even though small miracles happen every day, delivered by dedicated, overworked, and underpaid staff, as the Covid pandemic so starkly demonstrated.
More recently, the plight of women seeking NHS care has been thrust into the spotlight. Data shows that women are less likely to receive the right care at the right time. In 2022, the Conservative government launched a Women’s Health Strategy, promising to radically improve how healthcare listens to and engages with women and girls. The current Labour government is updating this plan, yet many women still feel unheard. Critics argue that women and girls continue to be ignored and marginalised within the NHS. Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health, assures us that no woman will be left fighting to be heard as the new strategy is launched. However, there is little new funding, and waiting lists tell a troubling story: gynaecology waiting times have risen by 98%, compared with an overall rise of 58%.
My own experience following a cancer diagnosis three years ago has been a journey of excellent care, indifference and an unspoken sense that I should gratefully accept whatever was offered. At times, that meant feeling as though I had reached the end of the line in terms of treatment. Finding the right clinicians — no two cancers are the same — can be a minefield in the NHS. Treatment strategies varied widely. Some clinicians were willing to explore newer options, while others were markedly cautious and conservative. At one point, I felt written off, as though the only remaining pathway was to go home and wait to die. I encountered what might be described as a malaise — or compassion fatigue — among some oncology staff. When I did raise concerns, I received an apology, but by then my faith in the system had been damaged.
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I am grateful to be alive, but gratitude should not silence critique. Survival should not depend on persistence, luck, the confidence to challenge authority or the will to fight for legitimacy, particularly when women are at their most vulnerable. A truly equitable NHS will be one that measures success not only by targets met, but in trust restored. Too many women are navigating illness while also coping with disbelief when their voices are dismissed. Until that changes, the promise of care “from the cradle to the grave” will remain unfulfilled for half the population.
The NHS has shown time and again that it is capable of extraordinary care. The challenge now is to ensure that this excellence is consistent, equitable, and is also shaped by the voices of the women and girls it serves. Women are not asking for special treatment, only to be heard, believed, and treated with dignity. If the NHS can meet that challenge, it will restore confidence and reaffirm its founding promise for generations to come.
Failures in the current system are not just individual shortcomings; they are symptoms of a system under strain. Addressing them requires more than goodwill; it demands investment, transparency, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about how care for women and girls is delivered.
The NHS remains one of Britain’s proudest achievements, but pride alone will not sustain it. Listening, truly listening to patients and especially to women must move from rhetoric to reality. My story is not unique, and it should not be dismissed as an unfortunate anomaly. Until women’s voices are valued as essential evidence rather than inconvenient noise, the system will continue to fail those it was designed to protect. Respect, curiosity, and compassion should never be optional extras in healthcare; they are the foundation on which trust is built.
