Fixing women’s health – neglected for too long – would bring substantial economic benefits
St Mary's hospital, Paddington, London (RichardBaker / Alamy Stock Photo)
4 min read
There are savings of £11bn a year to be made by improving women’s health.
That’s the innovative action we need to help more people into work and grow the economy. Whether you call it a black hole or a bin fire, all but those responsible accept that the country’s finances were left in a colossal mess. Any incoming government would have had to balance the books as a priority. The question is: how?
For every £1 invested in obstetrics and gynaecology, there is a return to the economy of £11 in savings
The standard for fiscal rules, set by Gordon Brown in 1997, is that governments should only borrow to invest, and should match spending with income. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has put her own stamp on these fiscal rules with the ninth change in 16 years; it’s ambitious but necessarily strict given the turmoil of the last few years and the trust we had to gain from voters to restore stability and growth to the economy.
After 14 years of austerity, and the chaos of Liz Truss’ leadership, people across the country were crying out for change. They had been at the sharp end of cuts to communities, mortgages going through the roof, and the price of the weekly shop sky rocketing. That feeling hasn’t gone away.
The scars of services being slashed still run deep. All the things that are needed to weave the fabric of society together were hollowed out, with only a few exceptions, leaving a lack of timely mental health support for adults and children; non-existent youth clubs (meaning those that are still running pay over the odds for ‘community’ spaces); and police services struggling to be reactive and only dreaming about having the resources for preventative action. Labour’s investments in these areas show we are reversing the damage of austerity.
But there is justified concern from many with disabilities and long-term health conditions that the government’s welfare cuts risk causing more harm to a system rightly identified as unworkable.
When it comes to reforming our welfare system and balancing public spending, we must focus on what these changes need to achieve: incentivising and supporting those who are able into work.
Both Debbie Abrahams (as chair of the Work and Pensions Committee) and I questioned the Prime Minister on the outcomes of the welfare changes during the recent Liaison Committee meeting.
We highlighted how Conservative cuts to welfare had not delivered the promised increase of people entering the workforce, and had instead caused mental health problems and pushed more into poverty.
There is no avoiding it, we face a huge financial challenge; doing the same thing may provide certainty, but won’t produce different results.
There is opportunity in another area neglected for decades, harming both the economy and the individuals it affects: women’s health.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists estimates that people missing work due to heavy or painful periods, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts cost the economy £11bn every year. It can take an average of eight to 10 years just to be diagnosed with endometriosis – that’s eight to 10 years potentially out of the workforce, having to manage an extremely painful and debilitating illness. Menopause alone keeps 60,000 women out of work, and the changes the government is bringing in to help women in work through menopause are really welcome, so let’s build on that.
For every £1 invested in obstetrics and gynaecology, there is a return to the economy of £11 in savings. Fixing the crisis in women’s healthcare, and the medical misogyny that leaves women having to fight to be believed, would save the economy billions and help thousands back into work.
I’m glad the Prime Minister said at the Liaison Committee that this was a genuine consultation and would work with those concerned to improve the welfare system. Balancing the books isn’t just a financial task, it’s a societal one as well.
Sarah Owen is Labour MP for Luton North and chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee
