Women’s health will be “ignored” in next week’s budget despite the economic burden posed by chronic conditions, leading doctors have warned.

There are millions of women across the country suffering from conditions such as endometriosis, chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and many of them lack access to vital healthcare.

Head of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH), Dr. Despite progress made in the previous government’s Women’s Health Strategy, women and girls still struggle to access emergency contraception, menstrual products and menopause care, according to Janet Barter.

Doctors have warned that lack of access to treatment and services often leaves women unable to work, burdening the economy.

A report prepared by NHS ConfederationThe report, published on 2 October, shows that every additional £1 invested in obstetrics and gynecology services per woman in England could bring an estimated £319 million into the economy.

Women’s health problems such as endometriosis, painful periods and menopause cost the UK economy around £12.5 billion a year through absenteeism and unemployment, it has been revealed.

President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), Dr. “We know that an investment in women is an investment in the broader economy,” said Ranee Thakar.

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“The government has stated that women’s health and gender equality is a priority, so we hope this will be supported with a strong financial commitment in next week’s Budget,” he said. I.

Dr Thakar said the funding increase was vital to deliver the Women’s Health Strategy, expand Women’s Health Centres, improve maternity services and tackle the gynecology care crisis in the UK.

Gynecology waiting lists in England have tripled in ten years, with the number rising by 223 per cent from 185,000 in 2014 to 597,000 in 2024. Nuffield Foundation and Health FoundationIt was released on October 10.

The research found gynecology services had the third highest number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks, with one in 20 waiting that long in May 2024.

The NHS is expected to receive a real-term funding increase of 3 to 4 per cent to address the elective care backlog in Rachel Reeves’ first budget on Wednesday, October 30.

But with a budget focused on filling the £22bn “black hole” left by the previous government, leading women’s health doctors fear conditions such as chronic urinary tract infection and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) will not be addressed.

Chronic diseases ‘the heaviest burden on society’

Chronic pain is one of the heaviest burdens on society but is likely to be overlooked in the budget, doctors have warned.

There is growing evidence that women suffer more than men. Harvard Health Publishing It is stated that 70 percent of people affected by chronic pain are women.

“Chronic pain not only affects the health of the patient, but also has a significant impact on society as the patient is unable to go to work and interact much with the community,” said Dr Attam Singh, a chronic pain consultant. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

“So they have to enjoy the various benefits of the welfare state,” he added.

Leading chronic urinary tract infection expert Dr. Chronic urinary tract infection patients are often overlooked despite being a “major” women’s health problem affecting millions of people, according to Rajvinder Khasriya.

He welcomed Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s commitment to tackling health inequalities but said: “Chronic urinary tract infection is always left out.

“There are a lot of things Wes Streeting needs to fix and as always Chronic UTI is not taken into account. But it needs to be kept high on the agenda because it is a huge problem for women and a huge burden on society.”

What is chronic UTI?

Experts say that infections, which usually begin as an attack of acute cystitis, may occur when bacteria settle on the bladder wall and become difficult to treat. short courses of antibiotics.

The disease mostly affects women and can cause them to be unable to work, sleep, leave the house or socialize with friends and family, and in some cases can even lead people to become suicidal.

About half of women have had a urinary tract infection, and in about 30 percent of them, the infection becomes recurrent or chronic. According to Dr Khasriya, this means up to four million women in the UK may have long-term infection.

Chronic Urinary Tract Infection Campaign (CUTIC) estimates that the number of women with chronic, established infections in the UK is 1.7 million.

Dr Khasriya said there was “movement” in developing new diagnostic methods and identifying research targets, but patients still lack “access to care”.

There is still only one NHS treatment center for chronic urinary tract infection: the LUTS clinic at Whittington Hospital in north London, and the waiting list is months long.

“We would like to see chronic urinary tract infection mentioned in the budget because this will determine the priorities of the NHS and where its funding goes,” Dr Khasriya said.

“There’s a lot of movement in terms of identifying targets for diagnosis and research, but we really need treatments for patients,” he added.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) This condition, which is more commonly reported in women than men, is also at risk of being overlooked in the Budget.

According to the NHS, EDS refers to a group of inherited conditions that affect connective tissue, with symptoms such as long-term pain, chronic fatigue, dizziness, palpitations and digestive disorders.

Susan Booth, chief executive of Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, said she was “very” concerned that EDS was being overlooked but added: “We will work hard to ensure our voices are heard.”

“We hope for a rapid service, but as we have been told there are no plans for a nationally commissioned service for EDS, this seems unlikely,” he said. I.

The organization is calling for integrated multidisciplinary care pathways covering primary and secondary care, with support and training for healthcare professionals to deliver this.

A former general practitioner who now focuses on EDS research, Dr. Emma Reinhold said she would welcome any increase in NHS funding as it would also trickle down to EDS patients.

“The most important thing is the increase in both annual income and capital investment to repair collapsed buildings and invest in IT infrastructure to increase productivity,” he said. I. “The budget should establish the framework and ensure the flow of detailed, case-by-case work.”

Endometriosis and menopause cost the economy billions

Common women’s health problems such as endometriosis and menopause risk being overlooked in the Budget despite costing the country billions of dollars.

The economic cost of absence due to severe menstrual pain, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts is estimated at around £11 billion a year, a new report by the NHS Confederation has estimated.

It was also revealed that unemployment due to menopausal symptoms has a direct economic impact of around £1.5bn a year, with around 60,000 women in the UK not working.

Head of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH), Dr. Janet Barter said she was concerned women’s health was being overwhelmed by other “big issues” facing the NHS.

“I think it’s very easy for women’s health to be overlooked because it’s a matter of care,” she said. I. “If you are a woman, you should have a smear, you should have a mammogram, you should consider birth control. “But this is very difficult to do at the moment due to lack of access to services.”

She said despite the launch of Women’s Health Centers, there was still a postcode lottery in accessing menopause care and sexual health services.

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Dr. Barter told I He is “hopeful” the budget could include an increase in public health grants for local authorities to fund sexual health clinics, as well as the introduction of free emergency contraception in all pharmacies to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

She also called for improved access to free menstrual products and menopause care in educational settings.

“We realize it’s not a lot of money, but there are a lot of things that can be done for women’s health that would be cost-neutral or actually save money,” she said. “So we hope those words will be heard.”

Faye Farthing, head of communications at Endometriosis UK, said there was a “clear financial case” for investing in endometriosis, citing NHS Confederation analysis.

The condition affects 10 per cent of women from puberty to menopause – more than 1.5 million women in the UK, according to the charity.

It occurs when tissue similar to the uterine wall grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. According to the NHS. Symptoms include pelvic pain that often gets worse during menstruation, pain during or after sex, and difficulty getting pregnant.

Ms Farthing, from Endometriosis UK, said: I“The average time it takes to diagnose is eight years and 10 months, putting extra pressure on the NHS as patients are not getting the treatment they need early enough, and means losing talent from the workforce to the detriment of the economy.

She added: “Investing in menstrual health will create something for the economy and society as a whole, as well as reducing the suffering of those living with endometriosis and other menstrual health issues.

“Given the government’s desire to invest in health to encourage people to work to grow the economy, we really hope the Chancellor takes this into consideration.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “It is unacceptable that so many women are not getting the care they need when they need it. It is vital that women’s voices are heard and this government has set out a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS and make it fit for the future.” will prioritize women’s health while creating it.”

“We will deliver the investment and reform needed to turn the NHS around, including tackling waiting lists of an extra 40,000 appointments a week and shifting the focus of healthcare from hospital to community to help women get treatment sooner.”