Agenda item

Womens Health Report Attached

Dr Cathy Fines provided a brief overview of the Women’s Health Hub scrutiny report. It was presented to the committee that these hubs operate within the community, often bridging the gap between primary and secondary care. Originating from the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy, the Women’s Health Hub will be operational from October 1, 2024, at Fairfax Medical Centre on Sundays, ensuring that patients on waiting lists receive appointments.

The Women’s Health Hubs offer intermediate care, providing services more advanced than those typically found in primary care but not necessarily requiring secondary care referrals. These hubs do not need to be specific buildings; they can utilize digital resources for virtual triage or consultations, or existing facilities like GP surgeries or community centres. The goals are to:

• Deliver care closer to home
• Improve patient experience
• Address health inequalities
• Reduce pressure on secondary care and waiting lists

Adam Webb, Chief Operating Officer from Healthwatch, also presented an overview of the Healthwatch report. This report aimed to understand the experiences of women in the community regarding health and social care throughout their lives in Bury. It examined whether women have access to the right information at the right time to make informed decisions.

Councillor Fitzgerald invited questions from the members. Councillor Tariq thanked Adam and Dr Fines, while Councillor Frith emphasized the importance of the report and the ongoing work. There was a discussion on how residents would be informed about the opening times and availability of the hubs. Dr Fines responded that initially, the priority would be to see patients who have been waiting the longest. After the first month, GPs will be able to refer patients.

Councillor Boles inquired about harmonizing the IVF offer across the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership. Dr Fines explained that while the offer is consistent across the 10 Greater Manchester localities according to NICE guidelines, the number of cycles varies.

A discussion on access to IVF for same-sex couples revealed that the same guidelines apply to both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Councillor Ryder asked if the services would be available to younger girls, to which it was confirmed that all members of the public could access the service. Adam Webb added that there were mixed responses from women about being consulted, with many feeling relieved but some hesitant due to the sensitive topics discussed.

Councillor Jo Lancaster raised concerns about funding and acknowledged the hard work involved in setting up the women’s hubs. Discussions about funding are ongoing, with amounts yet to be determined. Dr Fines noted that many other services across the borough could be utilized.

Councillor Fitzgerald highlighted that while women statistically live longer than men, they are more likely to live with long-term illnesses or disabilities. There was a discussion on whether education would be integrated into the Women’s Health Hubs to ensure consistent delivery of information. Dr Fines responded that all GP practices should have the same knowledge and provide the best advice. The Women’s Health Hub aims to be a one-stop shop for services, with primary care access through GP practices. A menopause service was also discussed, to be delivered by the Live Well service within the local authority.

Agreed Actions:

• The report was noted.
• Prescriptions for HRT will be revisited by the committee at a later date