NHS is letting women down through ‘medical misogyny’, says Wes Streeting

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Alexandra Topping Political correspondentMarch 8, 2026 at 04:01 PM

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UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged "medical misogyny" within the NHS, following a Mumsnet report highlighting systemic sexism in women's healthcare. The report, based on nearly 100,000 posts over a decade, revealed that over half of surveyed women felt dismissed or ignored by NHS professionals due to their sex. Many reported having their pain or symptoms dismissed as "normal" or "in their head," leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. Streeting stated the NHS has let women down for too long and pledged to address the issue through increased funding, improved menopause support, community-based services, and the implementation of Martha's rule to ensure second opinions. The report was released in conjunction with International Women's Day.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

International Women's Day 40% United Kingdom 60% Mumsnet ×270% Wes Streeting ×390% National Health Service (NHS) ×795%

Keywords

medical misogyny 100% women's health 90% nhs 80% sexism in healthcare 70% patient dismissal 60% mumsnet 50% women's health strategy 50% gender bias 40%

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Negative

Score: -0.40

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The Guardian - World News

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medical misogyny women's health nhs sexism in healthcare patient dismissal mumsnet women's health strategy gender bias

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