As reported by Digital Health, a new £1.5 million FemTech challenge fund has been launched as part of a renewed government push to improve women’s healthcare, aiming to speed up the development and adoption of digital and technological innovations in the sector
The initiative forms part of the updated Women’s Health Strategy and is intended to support services that combine in-person care with online tools, with the goal of reducing long waits for diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as endometriosis, which can currently take years to identify.
Alongside the funding announcement, the strategy sets out plans to establish clearer standards for pain management during gynaecological procedures. This includes ensuring women are consistently offered appropriate pain relief during interventions ranging from contraceptive fittings to hysteroscopies, following longstanding concerns about variation in care.
The programme also proposes redesigning clinical pathways for common and long-term conditions including heavy menstrual bleeding, urogynaecological issues and menopause. The aim is to accelerate diagnosis and improve access to treatment, supported by new specialist centres to help women better understand and manage their conditions.
Health leaders have highlighted the scale of unmet need, with Dr Alison Wright noting that more than 565,000 women are currently waiting for gynaecological care. She said there is an opportunity to integrate women’s health hubs more closely into local health services to improve access.
Wes Streeting said the reforms aim to address systemic failings, pointing to long diagnostic delays, inconsistent pain management and repeated referrals as evidence that current care pathways are not meeting women’s needs. He added that women’s experiences must be central to improving the design and delivery of services.
