Reducing Health Inequalities: The Gender Pain Gap

This World Patient Safety Day, here at Sancta Maria Hospital we’re shining a light on one topic of interest for us, in relation to health inequalities. After observing several media campaigns, we have a decided to explore the gender pain gap, led by Tracy Ace, Head of Clinical Services, and Sally Tucker, Senior Anaesthetic & Recovery Practitioner.

The gender pain gap is a form of discrimination within healthcare where unconscious medical bias contributes to women’s pain being written off either as a normal part of womanhood or as a matter of little relevance.

Tracy Ace told us, “Having reviewed the campaign materials it sparked an interesting conversation with some of my female colleagues, some sharing their own personal experiences, and we were keen to understand how we as a hospital approach this and if we do have any differences with the way our patients are treated in line with the gender pian gap, appreciating the limitations on what we can establish due to our setting.  However, we are still extremely keen to understand if there are any differences which could potentially lead to improved outcomes for patients.

What we have decided to do is to undertake a review to examine treatment plans and outcomes across different patient populations. Our objective is to identify any differences in how male and female patients progress through their care journeys.

At Sancta Maria Hospital, our commitment is to ensure the highest standard of care for every patient. As part of our continuous quality improvement efforts, we are proactively reviewing patient experiences to gather valuable insights and enhance our patient experience.”

We view the gender pain gap as a significant concern in healthcare, as it highlights the potential for inequalities in how pain is recognised, managed, and treated across different patient groups. Addressing pain effectively is central to our mission of providing safe, compassionate, and patient centred care. By actively engaging with patients and listening to their perspectives, we aim to strengthen our understanding of their needs and refine our approach to pain management.

We are aware that evidence shows this is a wider regional and national issue, and for that reason, we want to be certain that it does apply to our patients within Sancta Maria Hospital. Our commitment is not only to respond to existing concerns but also to take preventative steps that ensure fairness and excellence in care.

By exploring this issue in depth now, we are positioning ourselves to remain at the forefront of patient safety and wellbeing. This proactive approach ensures that every patient receives timely, effective, and compassionate support in managing their pain.