PRESS RELEASE: NEW ‘Speaking of Women’s Health’ Podcast Amplifies Local Voices to Help Drive Healthcare Change for Women in Dorset

Dorset Women CIC is proud to announce the launch of ‘Speaking of Women’s Health…,’ a new podcast dedicated to putting the real-life experiences of Dorset women at the heart of the local NHS agenda.

Following an extensive two-year consultation with women in diverse communities, the podcast arrives as a vital audio companion to the Our Dorset Women’s Health website. Hosted by Marianne Storey (Chair of Dorset Women CIC) and Anjali Mavi (Radio Presenter, Cancer Awareness Champion and founding member of the BPC Indian Community), the series explores the health topics that matter most with local NHS Clinicians and experts. From the complexities of menopause to the cultural barriers facing minority communities, these are two of the key health and wellbeing issues featured that women can find out more about.

Bridging the Gap Between Patients and the NHS – The podcast is the result of a landmark collaboration between Dorset Women CIC, NHS Dorset, other NHS services and wider partners, aimed at helping implement the Women’s Health Strategy for England on a local level.  It provides women in Dorset information on what has been already achieved in the Dorset Women’s Health Programme – from changes implemented across Dorset – and importantly, what the priorities are going forward.

Marianne Storey comments: “By sharing evidence alongside these stories, we are holding the system to account and ensuring that healthcare in Dorset is co-produced by the very people who use it. For too long, women’s health has been sidelined. This podcast isn’t just about sharing information; it’s about shifting the power balance,” 

Dr Paul Johnson, Chief Medical Officer and Women’s Health Champion for NHS Dorset, said: This programme has been the stimulus to getting a diverse group of people together who have experience and expertise in women’s health and who can provide vital pieces of the puzzle through their lens. We were challenged, in the best way, to identify the resource we had to support women’s health, and tailor this, with women, to best meet their needs. Vitally, we have been able to use these foundations to help women understand how to help themselves, and make decisions on when they may need to seek further support; being involved in shared decisions around it. Without Dorset Women and all our partners, we would not have achieved what we have.”