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Nearly two decades ago, Donna Davies underwent a surgical procedure that has since left her suffering from chronic pain. Despite her ongoing discomfort, it was only when her husband advocated on her behalf that medical professionals began to acknowledge the severity of her condition. Donna, now 56 and residing in Swansea, developed stress urinary incontinence in her 30s, which led to the insertion of a vaginal mesh device. This medical device was later removed after she experienced intense pain, describing it as feeling like “being cut by glass every time I moved.”
Following the removal of the device, Donna required a total hysterectomy during which a “sling” was created from her own muscles. Unfortunately, her struggles did not end there; she continues to endure neuropathic pain and is facing the removal of her large bowel, necessitating a permanent stoma. Donna expressed frustration at the lack of specialized women’s health services in Wales, especially when compared to the nine centers available in England. “I feel that women in Wales are being forgotten,” she stated during a recent women’s health summit held in Wales, which addressed how women’s pain is frequently dismissed as normal within healthcare systems.
At the summit, Delyth Jewell, the women’s health minister in the Senedd, emphasized the need for stronger regulations requiring health boards to involve women in shaping the services meant to support them. Jewell underscored her commitment to ensuring women’s voices are heard and their experiences believed. “Too often women’s health services are considered a ‘should’ not a ‘must’,” she noted, advocating for better prioritization of women’s health during medical procedures and improved professional training.
Also present at the event was Isabel Linton from Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales, who highlighted the challenges women face not only in receiving accurate diagnoses but also in accessing consistent treatment. She pointed out the difficulties involved when patients need to move between health boards within Wales. Linton stressed that women’s health encompasses much more than obstetrics and gynecology, pointing to prevalent conditions such as autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular diseases that disproportionately affect women. She viewed the women’s health summit as a critical step toward sustaining progress following the launch of the Women’s Health Plan in December 2024, which included extensive input from women. Despite concerns about delays in advancing the plan, the minister expressed determination to reduce waiting times for gynecological services and ensure women no longer endure prolonged periods of pain without adequate care
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