It’s time to put women’s needs first’: Suffolk women’s health event returns after powerful debut
Latest data showing over 740,000 women remained on waiting lists as of December 2025
More than 740,000 women were waiting for gynaecology treatment in England as of December 2025, and organisers of a returning Suffolk health event say the figures show why open conversations about women’s health are urgently needed.
Let’s Talk Women’s Health will return to Ipswich on March 21, bringing together clinical specialists, charities and community organisations for a day of expert-led talks and interactive sessions.
The event comes amid continued national concern about access to care. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has warned that 2026 must be a turning point for women waiting for treatment, with referral demand remaining significantly higher than before the pandemic.
"Waiting list can literally mean the difference between losing an organ or not"
Amy Peckham-Driver, a speaker at the event and its marketing lead, said long waits can have life-changing consequences.
“As an endometriosis sufferer, I’m all too familiar with NHS waiting lists and the catastrophic impact they can have on a person’s life. With progressive diseases like mine, time spent on a waiting list can literally mean the difference between losing an organ or not, having a baby or not, or between simply surviving and being able to live a full life.”
She added that improving awareness must be a priority.
“This is why it’s absolutely critical to strengthen education around women’s health conditions, not just on the patient side, but on the practitioner side, too, so that future generations don’t have to face the unavoidable loss I’ve been forced to live with.”
Peckham-Driver said the event was first launched after organisers identified a lack of accessible information about women’s health conditions.
“We introduced Let's Talk Women's Health in 2025, and it was sort of experimental at that stage because a group of us had identified that there just wasn't enough information out there when it came to women's health conditions, especially for me living with endometriosis and the struggles I went through.”
National change needed
Looking beyond local action, she said national change was needed to rebuild confidence in healthcare services.
“I would just like to see women's health care be given the attention and the sense of priority that it deserves.”
“I would really like to see that implemented on a national scale in a way that can actually make a tangible difference to people's lives and that might just come down to women feeling they can go to the doctor or they can go to a clinical specialist, they're going to be heard, they're going to be seen, they're going to be taken seriously and they're going to be put on the correct treatment pathway.”
“I just think that it's going to take a lot for women to feel confident in the NHS again.”
The Government has previously announced plans to renew its Women’s Health Strategy as part of a wider long-term health plan, including measures aimed at tackling inequalities in access to care.
Organisers say this year’s programme has been shaped directly by feedback from attendees and will cover topics including breast cancer, endometriosis, pregnancy, menopause, neurodiversity and egg freezing.
Katie Winearls, Business Relations Manager at Springfield Hospital, said improving understanding benefits entire communities.
“Women’s health affects every family, every workplace and every community. It is not simply a ‘women's issue’. When we talk openly, we replace stigma with understanding, strengthen support networks and empower people to get the care they deserve. A healthier conversation leads to a healthier community.”
The event
The event will be held at The Hold in Ipswich in a festival-style format featuring guest speakers from the NHS, Suffolk Mind and patient advocate Dr Liz O’Riordan.
Dr Julie Kite, a GP and menopause specialist, said hearing from experts and those with lived experience could encourage more people to seek support.
“Talking about subjects that can sometimes be a bit taboo helps break down those barriers. It's always good to know that you are not the only one and that there is support out there.”
Peckham-Driver stressed the event is open to everyone.
“It's called Let's Talk Women's Health, but this is for men, women, anyone of any identity or background, and we'd love to see as many people as possible there.”
Organisers say the aim remains to create a space where people can ask questions, access expert advice, and leave feeling better informed about their health.