“I don’t take no for an answer!”
Benenden Health’s research on the gender health gap revealed some shocking results. Be Healthy talked to TV presenter Cherry Healey about women needing to speak up more
“I don’t take no for an answer!”
Benenden Health’s research on the gender health gap revealed some shocking results. Be Healthy talked to TV presenter Cherry Healey about women needing to speak up more
TV presenter Cherry Healey was shocked to discover that 60% of women feel that they’ve had a health issue not taken seriously by a medical professional. That’s just one of the eye-catching statistics revealed by Benenden Health’s recent research into the gender health gap – the inequalities that exist between men and women in terms of health outcomes and health care.
Popular for her self-titled TV shows on topics such as childbirth and body image, Cherry has gained prominence as a women’s health advocate. “I’ve done a number of documentaries on women’s health issues,” says Cherry. “I’ve also campaigned outside Facebook HQ when they wanted to censor the words ‘clitoris’, ‘vulva’ and ‘period’.
“I thought I was well-informed of how women thought about their health, but Benenden Health’s research really shocked me, especially discovering that 72% of women didn’t realise a gender health gap existed in the UK, where women have worse outcomes than men.”
In fact, data suggests the UK has the largest female health gap out of the G20 countries and the 12th largest globally. This goes against the situation in many countries where men are more likely to face worse outcomes.
To raise awareness and explore the issues caused by the UK’s gender health gap, Benenden Health partnered with leading gender equality charity the Fawcett Society for a national research campaign. Ten thousand women, 5,000 female employees and 1,000 business owners across the UK were surveyed about their experiences. The results were both surprising and shocking. For example, 45% of women have struggled to receive a key diagnosis and 42% have heard derogatory remarks about a female employee’s health while in the workplace.
Jemima Olchawski (pictured, right), CEO at the Fawcett Society, says: “At Fawcett, we believe in workplaces that work for women, at every stage of life. That’s why it is so important for us to partner with Benenden Health on its new campaign. Research like this shows just how much work there is still to be done in even just beginning to understand how stark inequality is in the UK today, and in ways that can seem ‘invisible’.”
Benenden Hospital’s Consultant Gynaecologist Mr Rowan Connell says: “The findings of our research paint a devastating picture of women’s health in the UK, but it’s a reality that, as a society, we cannot shy away from. At Benenden Health, we believe that everyone deserves access to great healthcare. We are committed to not only raising awareness of the gender health gap, but working to break down the barriers that women face and removing the stigma around women’s health to ensure the right support is in place for them now, and into the future.”
Cherry feels strongly that Benenden Health’s research is a huge message to women and men alike. Late diagnosis, lack of understanding about the health gap and the reluctance of women to seek medical help in case they aren’t taken seriously can have a negative effect on health outcomes. As the mum of 14-year-old daughter Coco, Cherry is even more determined to encourage other women to speak out and be confident about their own bodies. “When I was 14, I wouldn’t have spoken to my mum about my body the way Coco and I do,” says Cherry. “I taught myself not to be shy talking about my body and we’ll discuss anything. I think that’s probably the same for many girls her age and that’s a good thing. But we still have a long way to go to make sure women are as confident as possible when speaking to doctors.”
“The findings of our research paint a devastating picture of women’s health in the UK”
Having the confidence to speak up
Cherry feels she had a good grounding by going to an all-girls’ boarding school aged 11, so she didn’t experience boys being favoured over girls in education and sport. “It leaves you fortified with the knowledge of how it should be, and I have a loud voice, so I’m a good mouthpiece,” she says. “However, a couple of years ago I was suffering acute anxiety, struggling to sleep and feeling breathless. My doctor just dismissed me, saying I was too young, at 41, for these symptoms. And I just left, rather than challenging her, although I was thinking, ‘this isn’t normal for me’.
“Fortunately, I was working with a gynaecologist who gave me advice on lifestyle changes, which made a huge difference. Now, if those symptoms came back, I wouldn’t take no for an answer from my doctor.”
Cherry believes that it is vital that women feel they can speak up for themselves. “Since Covid, fewer women are going for screening tests, which is heartbreaking,” says Cherry. “From a patient’s perspective, women need to talk to each other and have confidence that we know our own bodies and won’t be dismissed if something isn’t normal for us.
“Healthcare professionals must also make sure they’re up to date with women’s health, realise we’re not hysterical and take us seriously. Everyone should read this research and campaign to get rid of this gender health gap. The stats speak for themselves and it’s up to us all to work together to get that gap down to zero.”
What the research found
of women surveyed don’t believe the gender health gap exists in the UK, where women have poorer health outcomes than men.
of women feel that they have had a health issue not taken seriously by a medical professional.
of women avoid going to the doctors if they can.
of women do not believe that women experience different symptoms than men for health issues such as ADHD, chronic pain, autism, heart conditions, dementia and strokes.
of women believe that the UK’s gender health gap is worse than that of other countries with a similar economy.
of women believe that their health has negatively affected their professional career and development.
How we can help
At Benenden Health we want to raise awareness of poorer health outcomes for women and help our members understand the gender health gap. Explore these content hubs to learn more.
