Opposition MP labels NHS as ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’, calling for action on women's health & better education
- Ella Wilson
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
Ella Wilson
A Conservative MP has called for urgent reform in endometriosis care, alongside improved education in schools and workplaces, accusing the NHS of being institutionally "sexist" and "misogynistic" in its approach to women’s health.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, has long been an advocate for better treatment of endometriosis and is now urging Parliament to address widespread failures in women’s healthcare and education, as he argued that “there is an attention needed to be given” to these crucial gaps.
Partaking in a recent interview with Ella Wilson, he said: “Until it is accepted that it is institutionally sexist and misogynistic, it’s going to be difficult to get these issues resolved. For too long women have been patted on the head and given painkillers and told this is just what it is for women. Until those issues are accepted then I think it’s difficult to keep moving this process forward.”
This call for reform has been met with widespread support from the women's health community, including patients, support groups, and charities.
Anna Cooper, co-founder of Menstrual Health Project, stressed that "it's so important to ensure that we improve the healthcare system."
She continued: "The reality is that we need masses of funding into women’s health because we’ve ignored it for so long and we can’t let the suffering go on or the waiting lists are just going to get bigger.”
Sir Alec, who led a parliamentary debate on endometriosis education on 21st May 2024, emphasised the importance of better menstrual health education in schools and workplaces, to drive lasting change.
With cross-party support, MPs backed the motion to implement better menstrual health education into the curriculum to improve understanding of conditions like endometriosis, where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body, causing chronic pain, painful sex, heavy bleeding and, in some cases, depression and infertility. [NHS]
Sir Alec is passionate about making this education more widespread, in order to help people recognise symptoms in themselves and others, particularly in workplaces, as he stressed: “If you don’t know a disease exists, how do you know you’ve got it?"
He continued: “Most people are good people. They want to help everybody else, and they would feel quite upset with themselves if they realised that there was something they didn’t know about. I think probably 95% of people would like to help their fellow co-worker if they knew what it was about.”
Since 2020, menstrual health education has been compulsory in primary and secondary schools across England, but the extent of its implementation remains unclear. Sir Alec expressed that improving workplace care is only acheivable through better education on menstrual health.
Sammy Moorhouse, who suffers from endometriosis, supports this movement to raise awareness and improve workplace care for those affected, after previously quitting her job due to the physical and mental toll of the condition.
She argued: “People need to understand more about the condition to know that you’re not just taking a day off. It affects their everyday life as it is, so why should they also worry about not having an income when it’s not their fault?”
Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a person's ability to work, as symptoms can lead to frequent absences, reduced productivity, and potential discrimination. [MFG solicitors].
Sir Alec is advocating for endometriosis to be officially recognised as a disability, to ensure greater occupational support for those affected.
He explained: “In terms of the workplace, if you make it recognised as a disability, the whole host of legislation then covers that off for people who are affected. If it gets classed as a disability, then this is information provided to all employers. We’ve got the menopause strategy in place, and I would rather see other gynaecological issues put into that."
Currently, endometriosis is not automatically recognised as a disability, due to it having such varying impacts on peoples' lives. [Endometriosis UK]
Dr Barbara Guinn, Lead Researcher and Reader in biomedical sciences at the University of Hull, believes that enhanced workplace care benefits everyone.
She said: “If we support people to work then they have a lot happier life, you have a diverse community of employees, and the government benefits from the extra earnings that people have and that makes a very big difference.”
A recent BBC survey of 13,500 women revealed the severe impact of endometriosis on careers, relationships, education, and mental health.
Many participants said they rely on painkillers, including potentially addictive opioids, and half reported experiencing suicidal thoughts due to the chronic pain.
Sir Alec is committed to ensuring both the NHS and Parliament improve care for those suffering from endometriosis, in order to enhance their quality of life and mental well-being.
He expressed: “We have to keep finding ways to do relevant debates and get it out there. I want people to recognise when you’ve potentially got something wrong and then, with everybody knowing what it is and being able to get diagnosed earlier, we can really improve so many women’s quality of life.
“I don’t think you can escape from the fact that dozens of women each year kill themselves through the chronic pain. They can’t take it anymore. If we can have a society in work or education, that really recognises and allows people to have empathy with the disease, perhaps people wouldn’t feel so isolated that they end up in that position.”
The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment on the concerns raised in this article, while the NHS did not provide a response.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans for free 24/7 on 116 123 or find helpful information via the 'resources' page of this website.
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