Politics & Council
13 March, 2024
Better treatment of women's health
By JACINTA ALLAN THE release of a landmark survey dedicated to Victorian women’s health undertaken by the Victorian Labor Government has confirmed what women already know; their pain is real and regularly overlooked. The results of the survey show...
By JACINTA ALLAN
THE release of a landmark survey dedicated to Victorian women’s health undertaken by the Victorian Labor Government has confirmed what women already know; their pain is real and regularly overlooked.
The results of the survey show that close to half of all women are impacted by issues related to their periods, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care, or conditions like endometriosis. Nearly 60 per cent of participants reported having had positive healthcare interactions, but one in three said they’d experienced insensitive and disrespectful practitioners who left them feeling dismissed and unheard.
The Listening to Women’s Voices report comprises the insights of more than 1,700 Victorian women who shared their personal experiences of our health care system.
Findings from the survey include:
Four in 10 Victorian women live with chronic pain.
Around half of the participants reported that period-related conditions affected their health and wellbeing.
Similarly, about 50 per cent said that pregnancy and birth complications continued to impact their health.
Around 30 per cent said they were affected by the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause.
30 per cent said conditions such as endometriosis, menopause and chronic pain led to poor mental health.
One in three have health conditions that affect their ability to work and keep a job.
20 percent said they missed out on social connections because of their health.
The report also includes participants’ personal stories. In an all-too-common occurrence, one woman said she was prescribed antidepressants when she had acute pelvic pain that was stopping her sleeping and working but was later diagnosed with advanced endometriosis.
As part of the next stage of the Labor Government’s nation leading $153 million women’s health transformation, I was pleased to recently announce, along with the Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, the new Inquiry into Women’s Pain.
The inquiry will examine systemic issues and solutions and hear directly from women across Victoria. Led by a panel of experts and overseen by the Women’s Health Advisory Council. Submissions can be made at health.vic.gov.au/public-health/inquiry-into-womens-pain, and close on the 12 March, 2024.
Victoria has a proud track record of work to improve women’s health outcomes, from establishing Victoria’s first clinic for women’s heart health, delivering 11 sexual and reproductive health hubs, and launching the state’s first ever sexual and reproductive health phone line.
However, as the results of the survey show, there is still more to do.
Work is underway to establish 20 new comprehensive women’s health clinic, which will be crucial to overcoming some of the barriers women face in accessing healthcare. Regional sites for the clinics include Bendigo Hospital, Goulburn Valley Health, Ballarat Base Hospital, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Barwon Health, Geelong, (which already runs a clinic, extended from one to five days a week), Mildura Base Hospital, Northeast Health Wangaratta, and Warrnambool Base Hospital.
Offering free, wide-ranging care and support, the clinics will allow women to see specialists in the one spot, making it easier and faster to access the world-class care for conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Women’s health has been overlooked and under diagnosed for too long. The Victorian Government is working to completely change the way women’s health issues are treated in our state.
* Jacinta Allan is the member for Bendigo East and Victorian Premier