Barriers to women in accessing healthcare in the UK – a review

This paper examines the persistent gender health gap in the United Kingdom, highlighting disparities in healthcare access and outcomes between men and women. While women report higher morbidity rates across a range of conditions compared to men, healthcare research have historically been structured around male-centric models, leading to diagnostic delays, inadequate treatment, and unmet healthcare needs. The study explores the socioeconomic, systemic, and behavioural roots of these disparities, and consequences, which include reduced productivity and labour market inefficiencies. Key factors contributing to the gender health gap – such as caregiving responsibilities, financial constraints, workplace policies, and structural biases in medical research – are analysed. The effectiveness of the UK Women’s Health Strategy (2021) is critically evaluated, focusing on policy interventions such as the expansion of women’s health hubs, mental health support, and workplace reforms. Despite these measures, challenges persist, particularly in addressing intersectional inequalities affecting women from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds. The paper concludes by emphasising the need for a more comprehensive policy approach that integrates healthcare access with broader economic and social reforms to achieve gender equity in health outcomes.