A service based on kindness and respect: The health experiences of women with long term conditions in York
This report builds on our 2025 report, Women’s health: stories of health experiences in York.
In that report we brought together the experiences of women shared with Healthwatch York directly or through partner organisations about any contact with a healthcare provider. As a result of what we heard, we wanted to explore the experience of women with long term conditions, especially those that particularly affect women including ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), endometriosis, osteoporosis, PoTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) also known as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), fibromyalgia, EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndromes) and more.
This report shares women’s experiences of these, and other, conditions to identify themes in the health care and support they received.
Overall, what needs to change can be summarised as follows:
1. Listen to women, believe them and treat them with dignity
2. Improve the knowledge and understanding of women’s long term health conditions
3. Reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment
4. Deliver co-ordinated, person-centred care for complex conditions
5. Improve support for self-management and improved quality of life
6. Improve access and make services more accessible
7. Strengthen specialist services and reduce postcode variation
Read the full report here.