The UK government has announced plans for a men’s health strategy.
This landmark announcement was made at a men’s health summit on Thursday 28 November.
Health Secretary, Wes Streeting confirmed that the Government will introduce a national men’s health strategy next year.
This comes after many years of campaigning, lobbying and activism at a national and local level by a range of organisations and groups – which Men’s Health Unlocked is proud to be a part of – alongside Men’s Health Forum, Men and Boy’s Coalition, Global Action on Men’s Health, UK Men’s Shed’s Association, Andy’s Man Club, Movember and many others.
Congratulations to all involved and who contributed to this huge success.
Next steps for the Strategy
Men’s Health Unlocked looks forward to working with our members and the third sector in Leeds to represent your views throughout the development of the strategy.
In the coming months the government will open a call for evidence – inviting organisations to give their views on what more should be done to improve men’s health.
Men are also being encouraged to share their views on how to make the NHS “fit for the future” on the website Change NHS.
The strategy is likely to address prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
Streeting said:
“Just as we are determined to end the injustices women face in healthcare, we won’t shy away from the need to focus on men’s health too. This government will publish a men’s health strategy to tackle these problems head on.
Nothing frustrates me more than when men’s health and women’s health are somehow pitted in opposition to each other, as if by focusing on a men’s health strategy we are in any way detracting from the brilliant work that successive governments have been doing on women’s health and actually much more work we need to do.”
