The UK's leading gynaecologist has issued a stark warning about "medical misogyny" within the National Health Service, claiming that systemic bias is causing women to wait excessively long for essential care. Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, highlighted that women's health conditions are frequently deprioritised compared to men's, leading to a growing crisis in gynaecological services.
Growing Waiting Lists and Emergency Admissions
Official figures reveal a troubling escalation in gynaecology waiting lists across England. As of January 2026, at least 565,134 women were awaiting gynaecology services, more than double the 279,000 recorded in 2019. Alarmingly, only 56 percent of women are being seen within the NHS target of 18 weeks from referral, making this one of the worst-performing specialties. Gynaecology now has the fifth highest waiting list of any medical specialty, despite women comprising 51 percent of the population.
Emergency admissions for gynaecological issues have surged from 162,000 in March 2020 to 196,000 in March 2025. Dr Wright explained that women are increasingly presenting at Accident and Emergency departments with acute symptoms like severe anaemia requiring blood transfusions, conditions that should have been managed through routine care. According to RCOG data, one quarter of women attending A&E are those stuck on elective gynaecology waiting lists.
Chronic Conditions Neglected
Dr Wright emphasised that debilitating conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids have historically been treated as "benign" within the NHS, despite being chronic and severely impacting quality of life. A recent Endometriosis UK report found women wait nearly a decade for diagnosis. "These conditions are advancing, and that's my concern," Dr Wright stated. "Women should not be having to present to A&E, but we're also seeing more gynaecological cancers diagnosed in emergency settings."
She cited examples of unequal treatment, noting that testicular torsion in men is typically treated as an emergency requiring immediate surgery, while ovarian torsion in women often doesn't receive the same urgent response. Similarly, she claimed robotic technology was introduced "very quickly" for male urology surgery, while gynaecologists faced bureaucratic hurdles for the same advancements.
Systemic Challenges and Workforce Burnout
Dr Wright described a "vicious cycle" where dedicated medical professionals struggle to provide adequate care within a constrained system. A recent RCOG survey found 80 percent of gynaecologists show signs of burnout. "This is worrying not only for workforce wellbeing but also because burnout manifests in care quality," she said. "Our members want to do more for women, but the system currently prevents them from delivering the care they'd like to."
Her comments follow a Women and Equalities Committee report concluding that women face "medical misogyny" and are often told to "suck it up" and endure pain due to insufficient awareness of women's health issues.
Government Strategy and Proposed Solutions
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is set to unveil a renewed Women's Health Strategy, having previously pledged to "give women the power to kick medical misogyny where it hurts: the bank balance." Dr Wright believes this national plan offers an opportunity to reprioritise women's health within the NHS.
She advocates for the establishment of women's health hubs, which would integrate GPs, specialist gynaecologists, and sexual health professionals, allowing women to receive comprehensive care without hospital referrals. A pilot hub in Tower Hamlets, opened in December 2023, demonstrated promising results: of 3,500 women referred by December 2024, only 25 percent required hospital care, compared to 85 percent previously.
Additionally, RCOG research has exposed further inequalities within gynaecology waiting lists, with black and Asian women waiting longer than their white counterparts for treatment.
Dr Wright concluded: "Misogyny exists across society... sadly, I'm having to say this in 2026. Women are not prioritised as they should be across the board, including in healthcare. We must listen to women and transform how their health needs are addressed."
