Bristol Women’s Commission Chair Penny Gane is joined by four expert speakers at City Hall in Bristol on Saturday 2 March for a ‘Spotlight on Women’s Health’ panel as part of the celebrations for International Women’s Day 2024 with Bristol Women’s Voice and partners.
Starting at 12.15pm in the Bordeaux Room, the one and a half hour panel will explore a range of issues around women’s health and will feature a brilliant selection of guest speakers.
Co-chair of Bristol Women’s Commission’s Women’s Health Task Group Monira Chowdhury: Monira has had a long standing interest in health inequities especially involving excluded and marginised communities. She has been Co-chair of the Bristol Women’s Commission Health Task Group since 2018 and involved in contributing to the Bristol’s Joint Strategic Needs Chapter on Women, first published in 2017. Monira has worked on health inequalities, mental health and emotional wellbeing, community engagement especially involving patients and on improving access and equity to health research.
Shadow Health Minister Karin Smyth MP: Karin, who recently penned a blog for us on women’s health, has been MP for Bristol South for almost a decade now. She is a supporter of Bristol Women’s Commission and champion for quality healthcare for women. Before becoming an MP, Karin worked in the NHS as a manager, most recently for the NHS Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group. Her passion led her to her current position as Shadow Health Minister and in her role of MP she has supported improved healthcare in Bristol South and highlighted areas for improvement in the NHS.
Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire’s Integrated Care Board’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Joanne Medhurst: Joanne is responsible for developing a clinical strategy, providing senior clinical leadership to colleagues across the health and care system, and ensuring high-quality services for a population of just over one million people. Before joining the ICB, Joanne was Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive at the Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, and was the pandemic accountable officer and Director of Infection Prevention and Control, and supported regional implementation of the Virtual Ward Programme.
BBC presenter and health campaigner Primrose Granville: Primrose’s story embodies resilience, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable future in healthcare, driven by personal experience. A Jamaican-born multi-award-winning Broadcast Journalist, Health Campaigner, Community Advocate & former Educator, Primrose moved to the UK nearly 28 years ago. A freak accident in 2003 left her with mobility limitations & forced her out of the classroom. Not to be daunted, Primrose found radio & has been an integral part of Bristol’s radio fabric since 2008. Afflicted with Polycystic Kidney Disease, a hereditary condition, Primrose underwent a life-changing kidney transplant in 2018 fuelling her commitment to healthcare advocacy.
Penny said: “So many of us women have significant health issues and some of us struggle to get appropriate treatment. Our lobbying has led to a chapter on the health of women in Bristol in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, and helped shape the first Women’s Health Strategy for England unveiled recently by the government. “Our panel for International Women’s Day this year brings together a wide range of health leaders from the NHS, parliament and the community and we’re looking forward to shining a spotlight on women’s health once more in order to improve women’s experiences.”
The women’s health panel – and wider International Women’s Day celebration – is free to attend and starts at 12.15pm in the Bordeaux Room at City Hall on Saturday 2 March 2024. It is due to finish at 1.45pm. Questions welcome during the Q&A section, or can be emailed in advance to bwcommission@gmail.com