Cheshire and Merseyside recognised in national Women’s Health Strategy

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is proud that a landmark government strategy includes a case study from the region, recognising the leadership and impact of work delivered through Improving Me, our Women’s Health and Maternity Programme.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, published on 15 April 2026, sets out a decisive shift to put women’s voices, choice and experience at the heart of healthcare. Nationally, the strategy commits to listening to women more effectively, tackling inequities in access and outcomes, and removing practices that have left too many women unheard or in pain.

The Cheshire and Merseyside case study featured on page 25 highlights our system‑wide programme to expand access to long‑acting reversible contraception (LARC) across all nine Places. Through pilot funding, workforce training, and a focus on areas of highest need, care is being delivered closer to home in primary care, reducing variation and improving women’s experience.

Early evaluation shows strong patient satisfaction, growing uptake and emerging system‑wide benefits, with services now embedding LARC as a core offer within local Women’s Health Hubs. This work directly supports the strategy’s national ambition to improve access, reduce inequalities and ensure women are listened to and supported earlier.

Catherine McClennan, Programme Director for Improving Me, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Women’s Health and Maternity Programme, said: 

If you would like to get involved with the Women’s Health and Maternity Programme, or find out more about its work, visit the Improving Me website or email wham.engagement@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk.