Women’s Health

Blog - 27 February 2026

Healthwatch teams across the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) worked collaboratively to support regional engagement around women’s health, aligning with the national Women’s Health Strategy for England.
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This work builds on the Big Conversation on Women’s Health, launched during the NENC ICB’s Women’s Health Conference in July 2024. Since October 2024, Healthwatch has engaged over 4,500 women through surveys and targeted focus groups, ensuring the voices of underrepresented communities were heard.

The insights gathered have been shared with the Department of Health and Social Care to inform the refresh of the national strategy. While Healthwatch NENC did not lead the national work, its contribution provided valuable regional context and helped amplify the voices of local women.

The ICB is now working to embed these findings into future planning, and Healthwatch teams will continue to support this by promoting awareness, sharing tailored messaging, and encouraging public understanding of women’s health issues.

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