Benenden Health, a not-for-profit private healthcare provider in the United Kingdom, has released the results of their 2023 Gender Health Gap report, which discusses the persisting inequity in women’s healthcare in the UK. According to their report, the UK has the largest women’s health gap across all G-20 countries.
In a national survey of over 10,000 women, 35 percent of respondents stated they have experienced a poorer health outcome because of their gender, including negative experiences with healthcare professionals, late or incorrect diagnoses, and incorrect medical prescriptions. Furthermore, 60 percent of women respondents stated they have previously not been taken seriously when discussing a health issue with a medical professional. Many respondents reported their poor health outcomes have negatively impact their personal lives, professional lives, and self-esteem.
A second survey of 5,000 women employees asked participants how their health issues have affected their careers. Over a third of respondents reported hearing negative comments about women being more emotional than men or jokes about women being on their period while at work. About 42 percent of respondents stated they have heard derogatory comments from co-workers about another woman employee’s health. This negative workplace environment has created barriers in communication for some women, with 42 percent of respondents stating they would feel uncomfortable discussing their health issues with their manager.
The survey respondents offered several suggestions for employers’ to create a more supportive women’s environment. The most common responses included establishing pregnancy loss leave and policies, implementing flexible leave during pregnancy, and offering free sanitary products.