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Women: Chronic Illnesses

Asked by Mr Lee DillonLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 29 January 2026UIN 107917

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to provide support for women who are disproportionately affected by long-term health conditions like arthritis.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The Government is committed to supporting women with long-term conditions like arthritis. Through the 10-Year Health Plan’s three big shifts, we will ensure more tests are delivered in the community, improved working between services, and greater use of technology to support women managing their long-term conditions. Delivering these shifts will be a cross-Government effort.

We are renewing the women’s health strategy, to tackle enduring challenges and build on vital progress in women’s health.

For those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including women with arthritis, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to reduce MSK community waiting times, which are the highest of all community waits, and improve data, metrics, and referral pathways to wider support services.

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