Learn more about what we have been doing to improve the health and well-being of women and girls.
Our initiatives
Read our report: Woman’s Health in the UK - Time for Change
We are excited to launch our latest research: one of the largest nationwide surveys on women's healthcare conducted in recent years, with a sample size of approximately 5,000.
We found women don’t feel listened to by medical professionals or employers. Many are going private, taking out short term loans and buying treatments on credit to afford the care they need. Women are very satisfied with Women’s Health Hubs, but awareness is low. 71% know nothing about them. Most who have visited did not receive a blood test or an ultrasound scan. Both women and men support women’s health and fertility issues being taught on the national curriculum.
Investing in women’s health benefits everyone. Women may on average live longer than men, but they live more of their life in ill-health from specific conditions related to their reproductive organs and hormones.
The moral case is clear: alleviating the often-unnecessary suffering of women with chronic painful conditions or heavy menstrual bleeding, which have not been investigated or taken seriously should be high on the agenda for the new Government. Experiences such as those of Kate should not happen in a modern healthcare system. These are women starting careers with hopes of starting families, mothers with dependents, older women with grandchildren and a well-deserved retirement to enjoy.
There is a really strong economic case for action too: ill-health is causing significant absenteeism, with women having to go part-time or even quit their jobs altogether. Failure to diagnose and treat means that illnesses become more severe and much more expensive to treat, requiring more hospital than outpatient care, and often resulting in mental health problems.
Read our submission to the NHS: It's time for action
The facts are unequivocal; women’s health issues and the disparities in gynaecological care represent a pressing public health challenge and one that is directly impacting our nation’s economy.
It is essential that funding for the health of women – who make up 51% of our population and 53% of our workforce - is prioritised to enable the government to tackle the critical inequalities in access to care across the UK. But beyond the socio-economic imperative, this is about staying true to the founding principles of the NHS and upholding the fundamental values of a progressive democracy that strives to provide an inclusive, healthier and economically sustainable society.
Read our report: investing in the health of the 51%
Our recent report in partnership with the NHS Confederation reveals the potential economic benefit of closing the gender health gap in the UK.
For too long, women’s health has been neglected. And our economy is paying the price for this: women being unable to work due to certain gynaecological conditions alone has an estimated economic burden of £11 billion annually.
With a estimated return on investment of £11 for every £1 invested in women’s health services, the case is clear. It’s time to prioritise women’s health.
Empowering women’s health through cinema: Trailer for ‘My Week with Maisy’ starring Joanna Lumley
We are thrilled to share our latest initiative in advocating for women's health, this time through the world of cinema: the short film ‘My Week with Maisy’, starring the remarkable Joanna Lumley.
Directed by the talented Mika Simmons and backed by the Create Health Foundation, with Geeta Nargund serving as an Executive Producer, ‘My Week with Maisy’ explores a compelling narrative centred around Mrs. Foster (Joanna Lumley), a retired woman beginning her journey of ovarian cancer treatment. The film takes an unexpected turn as she finds herself sharing her treatment room with the wise-beyond-her-years Maisy Jones, portrayed by Ellie-Mae Siame.
The experiences of the pair intertwine to spark a delicate and thought-provoking conversation around the emotional impact of chemotherapy. The film utilises the power of diversity and intersectionality to highlight the uniqueness of each individual's struggle with cancer, while also mapping a journey of characters who transgress boundaries of identity to form an unlikely friendship.
After a private screening at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, ‘My Week with Maisy’ is now being put forward to festivals, and has already started to gain some traction winning Best Women’s short film at Cleveland International Film Festival and nominated as best short in the Diversity catagory of Short Shorts Asia, both of which are Academy accredited Festivals.
We hope ‘My Week with Maisy’ will demonstrate the the power of storytelling as a catalyst for discourse, highlighting the potential of art as a platform to raise awareness about health and diversity and empower women’s health.
CAST
Mrs Foster – Joanna Lumley
Nurse Gaby – MyAnna Buring
Maisy - Ellie–Mae Siame
Nurse Lucy – Poppy Gilbert
Written by Mark Oxtoby
Directed by Mika Simmons
Produced by Georgina French
Executive Producers: Geeta Nargund, Sally Greene, Mark Oxtoby, Caroline Jay Ranger
Casting by Finnian Tweed
Music by Sarah Warne
Costume Designer - Hannah Teare
Production Designer - Anna Papa
Director of Photography – Emma Dalesman
World Premiere: Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, January 2024
Report Launch: “Where did it start for you?” Understanding the pre-pregnancy experiences of BAME women
Research from MBRRACE in 2022 shows that maternal mortality rates are nearly four times higher in Black women and nearly twice as high in Asian women than White women. CREATE Health Foundation’s report highlights racial disparities across journeys to motherhood in the UK and the steps to tackle them.
“Our report adds to the body of evidence demonstrating unequal experiences of pre-pregnancy and pregnancy care for BAME women. This is a call for urgent action to address these systemic inequalities and biases, and to take forward the evidence-based recommendations to ultimately improve maternal outcomes.”
- Professor Geeta Nargund and Praful Nargund
Courses at the University of Bolton in ultrasound, fertility and assisted conception
The Create Health Foundation is organising and running postgraduate courses at the University of Bolton to help educate the next generation of reproductive experts. The first course on Ultrasound Imaging in Reproductive Medicine/Fertility and Assisted Reproduction, resulting in a Certificate from the University of Bolton, has been launched.
Our previous campaigns
The #SaferIVF Campaign
The laws governing IVF do not include any obligation to protect the health of women undergoing treatment. We’re campaigning to change this.
Fertility Education in Schools
We have been campaigning for increased education for girls in schools so they can be better informed about their reproductive health.
National tariff
We have been campaigning for a cap to the charges that IVF providers can bill the NHS for treatment, creating a level playing field for couples across the UK.