BBK Manifesto 2025: Eradicate health inequality
Action must be taken to address health inequalities for women, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minority communities.
Health disparities are not isolated incidents – they are systemic, and research and reports confirm it.
Medical misogyny
According to a recent report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), medical misogyny is “leaving women in unnecessary pain and undiagnosed for years”. The report is compounded by the fact that in 2024 the UK was ranked 104th globally for the gender health gap.
To combat the gender health gap, the Government launched the Women’s Health Strategy in 2022. However, as of July 2025 – three years later – there are 580,000 women on waiting lists for menstrual or gynaecological services in England. Black women are still twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes according to the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Research into women’s health remains underfunded. According to the World Economic Forum, just 7% of biopharma innovation is invested in women’s health, and 1% of this is invested in non-cancerous conditions. According to Imperial, just 2% of medical research funding is spent on pregnancy, childbirth and female reproductive health.
These alarming statistics must be addressed by improving education for healthcare professionals and investing in research into women’s health conditions.
Health inequality for those with disabilities
Research shows individuals with disabilities are more likely to have an unmet healthcare need than those without disabilities.
A prominent example of this is in relation to cancer screening for women. There are serious systemic gaps in ensuring essential preventative services like cervical screening and mammograms are physically accessible to those with mobility impairments.
In many cases, clinical environments and equipment are not designed with wheelchair users in mind. For example, examination couches used for cervical screening are often fixed-height and cannot be lowered to accommodate transfers from a wheelchair. Similarly, mammogram machines are typically designed for standing patients and often cannot be adjusted low enough to perform the procedure safely and effectively for someone who remains seated. These barriers mean even if a woman is invited to attend screening, she may arrive to find the equipment unusable.
Additionally, the logistical adjustments recommended in existing guidelines such as using hoists, offering home visits, or accessing specialist clinics are rarely implemented in practice. This disconnect between policy and reality leaves many women feeling discouraged, embarrassed, or simply unable to access the care they need. As a result, preventable delays or missed diagnoses can and do occur.
Recent statistics underscore the scale of this problem. As of 2024, only 68.4% of eligible women in England are up to date with cervical screening, down from 72.2% in 2020. Around 30% of women aged 25 to 64 are currently overdue for their smear test. Within that group, many are disabled women who face additional barriers to access.
A 2019 UK study found disabled women had significantly lower odds of attending mammogram appointments compared to non-disabled women. Research shows that in some cases, disabled women were up to 50% less likely to receive breast cancer screening services. These are not just numbers. They represent missed opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention, and lives placed at unnecessary risk.
Without urgent, targeted action to improve accessibility through investment in adaptive equipment, staff training, and improvements in policy, these gaps will continue to put lives at risk and compound health inequalities faced by those with physical disabilities.
Health inequality for those from ethnic minority communities
BBK’s own research has found people from some ethnic groups report far worse healthcare experiences than the national average. While the NHS England GP Patient Survey 2023 shows 72% of British patients rate their GP experience as good, this falls to 57% for Bangladeshi patients, 59% for Pakistani patients and 60% for Gypsy/Traveller communities.
Some conditions are significantly more common in certain communities, such as prostate cancer in Black men (Prostate Cancer UK) and sickle cell in Black people, yet just one in 10 people are aware of their increased risk. This lack of awareness is compounded by wider systemic issues.
Research from University College London shows children from ethnic minority and deprived communities are disproportionately exposed to harmful air pollution in early life, including nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter. Environmental injustice of this kind is now recognised as a major public health concern that demands action alongside medical interventions.
These disparities extend to other parts of the healthcare system. According to research, minority ethnic children in paediatric intensive care are more likely to die, stay longer in hospital and be readmitted. In maternity care, Black women face higher rates of discrimination and serious complications, with mortality rates more than double those of white women.
Structural racism, environmental hazards and barriers to timely care continue to drive these outcomes. Tackling them will require targeted public health campaigns, cultural competence training for healthcare staff, and community-led approaches that address both medical needs and the wider social determinants of health.
This blog is part of our 2025/26 Manifesto for Injured People. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support injured people not only by winning their cases but by driving change. Guided by our clients’ experiences and partnerships with charities across the UK, we are raising awareness of the change we need to see to better support injured people. We will continue working with politicians from all parties to ensure injured people’s needs are not overlooked in Westminster or beyond. You can read our full manifesto here.
