For too long, women’s health has been treated as an afterthought in the UK healthcare system.
Long waits for gynaecology appointments, conditions that take years to diagnose, and a persistent sense that pain isn’t being taken seriously: these are everyday realities for many women.
At McMinns Pharmacy in Wishaw, we believe local, accessible care can help close that gap.
Here’s a look at the scale of the problem, and the women’s health services available on your doorstep.
The women’s health gap, in numbers
The statistics on women’s health in the UK make for sobering reading.
Women in the UK have the 12th largest gender health gap in the world, and while women live longer than men on average, they spend significantly more of their lives in poor health.
Analysis by the Nuffield Trust found that between 2011 and 2021, healthy years of life lost increased by 4% for working-age women, compared with 1% for men of the same age, and that women lost a combined 139,019 more years of healthy life than men over that period.
Access to care is a major part of the problem.
Gynaecology waiting lists have grown faster than almost any other NHS specialty: up 275% between 2011 and 2025, compared with an average of 199% across all specialties.
By April 2025, over 580,000 women in England were waiting more than 18 weeks for their first gynaecology appointment.
Diagnosis delays compound the issue.
Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 women, yet on average it takes almost 9 years from a first GP visit to receive a diagnosis.
Many women report that their pain or symptoms were dismissed or not taken seriously by healthcare professionals along the way.
The economic cost is significant too: missed work due to period pain, heavy periods, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts costs the UK economy an estimated £11 billion a year, and more than 60,000 women are currently out of work due to menopause symptoms.
The UK government’s Women’s Health Strategy for England, first published in 2022 and renewed in 2026, was designed specifically to tackle this gender health gap.
This includes funding for Women’s Health Hubs: local, joined-up services that bring women’s health support closer to home.
It’s a model that reflects what pharmacies in Scotland, like McMinns, already do every day.
How McMinns Pharmacy is helping
Community pharmacies are often the first, and most accessible, point of contact for healthcare in Scotland.
No referral, no long wait, no need to take a day off work. At McMinns Pharmacy in Wishaw, our women’s health service is built around that accessibility, offering a genuine local alternative while women wait for specialist NHS appointments, or a first port of call for advice and ongoing support.
Our women’s health services include:
Health consultations. One-to-one appointments with our experienced healthcare team, who take time to listen to your concerns and build a health plan tailored to you.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Consultations and treatment to help manage menopausal symptoms, at a time when NHS data shows tens of thousands of women are leaving the workforce due to menopause-related ill health.
Contraceptive advice and services. Expert, judgement-free guidance on contraception options, helping you make informed choices about your reproductive health.
Gynaecological health support. Advice and guidance on concerns such as irregular periods and pelvic pain, at a time when NHS gynaecology waiting lists are longer than ever.
Prenatal and postnatal care. Support for you and your baby through pregnancy and beyond.
Why local access matters
Given how long some women are waiting for specialist NHS care, and how often symptoms can be dismissed, having a trusted, local point of contact matters.
A pharmacy team you can walk in and speak to, without an appointment booked months in advance, can make a real difference: whether that’s getting HRT sorted more quickly, having a concern taken seriously, or simply knowing where to turn next.
That’s the role McMinns Pharmacy plays in Wishaw.
We’re not a replacement for specialist NHS care, but we are an accessible, knowledgeable first step, and an ongoing source of support throughout every stage of life.
Book your women’s health appointment
If you have a women’s health concern, don’t wait. Visit McMinns Pharmacy at 19 Main St, Wishaw, call us on 01698 372917, or book an appointment online today.