'Male GP told me I couldn’t be sterilised without him speaking to my husband to confirm he agreed'
The written experiences provide an insight into how women’s health issues are treated.
A health watchdog has declared a ‘gender health gap’ in Rotherham, revealing that some women feel their medical concerns are not taken seriously.
A report was published on August 19 by Healthwatch Rotherham, an independent health watchdog, on the healthcare experiences of some Rotherham women.
It aims to “amplify the voices of women” by “examining the impact these experiences have on both their physical and mental wellbeing”.
It follows a survey in April and May of 76 women and those with female anatomy, such as transgender men, non-binary, and intersex people, aged 18 to 80.
The written experiences provide an insight into how women’s health issues are treated.
One anonymous woman said: “I was told by a male doctor that I couldn’t be sterilised without the GP speaking to my husband to confirm he was in agreement.”
She said this resulted in an ‘unwanted pregnancy’ and subsequently a termination.
Another said: “I think that sometimes you are treated as being more of a hypochondriac as a woman receiving care, especially from the GP.”
A woman who was experiencing heavy, painful periods said: “I have been on the receiving end of unprofessional comments such as ‘you should get pregnant to stop them’, ‘some people just have painful periods you have to get used to it’, and ‘I think you might be exaggerating your symptoms because no one can bleed that heavily’.”
Findings suggest that inequalities in healthcare are caused by unconscious gender bias, inconsistent diagnosis and treatment approaches, limited awareness on how conditions present differently, and a lack of person-centred care, the report says.
49.1 per cent of respondents said they had taken a family member or friend with them to a medical appointment to ensure their concerns were taken seriously and to advocate for their concerns.
50 per cent felt that healthcare professionals assumed they were exaggerating their symptoms, or that their problems were linked to their weight, hormones, or lifestyle, rather than considering other possible causes.
With 40 people leaving written comments, 82.5 per cent described negative, personal experiences, and felt they had to repeatedly explain or justify their symptoms.
Healthwatch said others described delays for endometriosis diagnosis of between nine and 17 years.
A representative from Healthwatch Rotherham said: “Healthwatch Rotherham is calling for action through seven recommendations, including improved awareness of women’s health inequalities, better diagnosis and referral pathways, more inclusive healthcare services, and the development of a South Yorkshire Women’s Health Strategy.
“The report stresses that improving women’s healthcare requires a collective effort from healthcare providers, commissioners, GPs, community organisations and patients themselves.”
Around 26 per cent of respondents said their physical symptoms were put down to anxiety or mental health, or were prescribed antidepressants without further investigation.
A spokesperson for NHS South Yorkshire said: “We will take the time to carefully consider the findings in more detail and work closely with Healthwatch and our partners to understand the issues raised and ensure that the concerns highlighted through this feedback help inform meaningful improvements to women’s health services.”
A representative from the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: “We welcome the report’s recommendations and recognise the importance of ensuring patients feel listened to, involved in decisions about their care and able to access timely, equitable and person-centred services.
“We are committed to working with partners across the local health and care system in Rotherham to understand the issues raised, learn from patient experiences, and continue improving the quality and accessibility of care for everyone.”