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The report Women's Voices on Health - Addressing barriers to accessing primary care was released yesterday by Maternity Action and the Women's Health and Equality Consortium (WHEC). It is based on survey data of 300 women across the UK, as well as focus groups with BME women, asylum seeker and refugee women, women living with HIV, LGBT women, and women with Learning Disabilities. Some of the findings were: 69% of the women who had experienced domestic violence had not sought help from their GP, often due to a lack of trust in GPs ability to help. Stigma, and fear of not being taken seriously were two of the main reasons why women with mental health problems had not sought help. Prescription charges were a deterrent for 41% of our survey respondents, when deciding whether or not to make an appointment. 73% of mothers reported bringing their children into appointments, due to the nature of appointment systems, which often require patients to turn up at short notice. This can severely disadvantage women suffering from domestic violence, depression or sexual health problems, as they may not be able to discuss these issues with their children present. Focus groups for Black and Minority Ethnic women suggested a lack of confidence in GPs ability to handle gender-based violence, constituting a barrier to getting help with issues relating to Female Genital Mutilation and other kinds of abuse. It was suggested that younger women who have undergone FGM actively avoid health checks due to embarrassment and that doctors have little knowledge about how to deal with the issue. Refugees and women seeking asylum reported outright rejection and prejudice from GP staff, as well as problems with inflexible registration processes. Without a passport, they were often refused registration. Women reported having to call in social services to advocate for them, in order to get registered, and then again in order to be seen. Prescription charges were another big barrier. Many women with HIV had encountered ignorance and prejudice from GPs. Confidentiality was another important concern for women with this often stigmatised condition, causing conflict with reception staff, who were seen as indiscreet. The majority of participants in our focus group had experienced some form of domestic violence but had found it hard to seek help for this. Women with learning disabilities are at high risk of diabetes and other chronic health problems, as well as being exceptionally vulnerable to domestic abuse. This makes it especially concerning that women who had no entitlement to specialist provision reported serious issues relating to the accessibility of mainstream services. This manifested in admin staff's refusal to help with registration forms, and in not being able to make themselves understood in consultations. Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual women felt that health services were overtly hetero-normative, and many reported negative reactions when disclosing their sexual orientation. For some, this was a deterrent to using GP services. One woman reported not seeking help for a mental health problem lest she was asked about her family situation. The full report, entitled Women's Voices on Health - Addressing barriers to accessing primary care, can be accessed here: http://www.maternityaction.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Access-to-Primary-Care-report-FINAL.pdf A podcast discussing the report can be accessed here: https://audioboo.fm/boos/2200449-women-s-voices-on-health-addressing-barriers-to-accessing-primary-care Nik Barstow Director of Engagement & Involvement BHA, Democracy House, 609 Stretford Road, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0QA tel:0845 450 4247 direct: 0161 874 2156 fax: 08454503247 Mob: 07976025174 web:/ www.theBHA.org.uk<http://www.theBHA.org.uk><http://www.thebha.org.uk/><http://www.thebha.org.uk/> BHA is a limited company registered in England. Company No: 3818058 Charity No: 1079727