The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Women’s Health Network aims to support delivery of the women’s health strategy by improving access, outcomes and experience for women and girls (inclusive of transgender men and non-binary people with female reproductive organs). Health Networks present a unique opportunity to radically improve the way in which the health and care system engages and listens to all women and girls.
We will aim to provide a core offer of services across our system and will develop further services which will flex across places, based on population need. Networks in our area will take a layered approach to meet local need in a way that:
- Provides one stop shop services, with improved pathways in and out of care, tailored to our populations. We recognise there is a need to start with a focussed level of services (e.g., starting with a selection of gynaecology, sexual health and contraception services based on population data). However, we will also be ambitious in looking at other areas where outcomes for women and girls require further support e.g., CVD/ cancer, MSK, menopause support, post pregnancy, pelvic floor and incontinence care and wider determinants of health and wellbeing including domestic abuse and mental wellbeing.
- Builds skills and capacity across our integrated care system including primary, community, social care and alongside our wider partners including voluntary sector, education, fire, and police.
- Advocates for women and girls, by increasing engagement, building trust and relationships; to address inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes. This will include work with the local research, innovation, and academic community as well as through community participatory research activities (e.g., Hampshire Community Researchers programme) to use evidence and deliver research as well as embedding community-centred approaches through all activities.
To sign up to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Women's Health Newsletter, please contact hiowicb-hsi.population.health@nhs.net