A State Government landmark inquiry into women’s pain has revealed the significant impact pain conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, and migraines are having on the lives of Victorian women and girls.
The results from the survey of more than 13,000 women, girls, carers, families, and healthcare workers showed the negative experiences many have had when seeking care.
Women and girls have shared their experiences of sexism and misogyny, feeling ignored or dismissed by clinicians who linked their pain to psychological and personality factors, as well as culturally unsafe care.
On top of that, information was shared about cases of delayed diagnosis, the high cost of care, and the impact pain can have on quality of life, relationships with family and friends, and careers.
Nurses were the most common healthcare workers who participated in the inquiry, showing that lack of knowledge about women’s health and available clinicians was the largest barrier to care for many patients.
About 40 per cent of women who participated in the survey were from regional and rural Victoria, highlighting the importance of having to access the right care closer to home.
The stories and experiences shared in the survey over the last few months will now spearhead the development of recommendations to improve how women’s healthcare is delivered in Victoria.
The results come at the same time as the State Government prepares to launch its $5 million Mobile Women’s Health Clinic, which will be operated by BreastScreen Victoria to make free healthcare more accessible for women living in rural and regional parts of Victoria.
The new mobile women’s health service will hit the road in late October.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said the new mobile women’s health clinic would provide direct service to women in regional areas.
“These survey results are an important step towards building a new system that is informed by the voices of women, girls, families, carers, the healthcare clinical workforce, and researchers,” she said.
“Our new mobile women’s health clinic will help us bring new services directly to women in regional Victoria, offering a safe and inclusive space for care.”
The State Government’s $153 million transformation in women’s health is also delivering 20 new women’s health clinics, including one at Northern Health, which will be one of the first five to commence operation in the second half of 2024.
