Editor's letter: Let’s end this healthcare scandal now - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life Editor’ s letter Let s end this healthcare scandal now By Jo Elvin - April 10, 2022 How interesting – and please feel the sarcasm and fury dripping from that word ‘interesting’ – it is to find that, as we’ve been creating this special issue, a major women’s health scandal is yet again making headlines. A landmark report into the NHS’s worst ever maternity scandal has revealed that a staggering 200 babies might have survived had better care been provided. And that at least 12 healthy mothers died while giving birth. As much as the unfolding investigation into the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust has broken my heart, I have to admit I find it hard to be shocked. Just this morning, there was a woman interviewed on Radio 4, whose baby had died at Shrewsbury. Her repeated concerns about her newborn’s breathing were ignored. Her child died of respiratory failure. The issues that resulted in these horrors are yet more proof of what millions of women already know: that our unique health problems are routinely disrespected, misunderstood, under-researched and frequently subjected to sexist judgements and dismissals. In the case of maternity care failings, this inability (or refusal?) to take women seriously also has grave consequences for our children. I know the vast majority of our medical professionals want only to do great work. I know some of you will write to me incensed at the tone of our features today. But frankly, as much as I wish these scandalous stories were freak, isolated incidents, they are not. The evidence of mistreatment of women in healthcare is simply overwhelming. In this issue Dr Ellie Cannon, The Mail on Sunday’s resident GP, joins YOU to launch a special campaign. We’re starting it off with an in-depth look at menopause care. Menopause is a life stage that 100 per cent of women will face. But it is still a shamefully misunderstood and neglected health concern – even among doctors. So misunderstood, at times, that women suffer unnecessarily, with some driven to the brink of despair and suicide. That is, yet again, absolutely scandalous. My great hope is that the information contained in this magazine will help more women understand when to ask for help and how to act if you get the eye-rolling treatment. I don’t know exactly how we change centuries of institutionalised thinking and language that hurts so many women. But I do know we have to start doing everything we can to impact that change. One thing I can do, as editor of YOU, is make you aware of not only the health service’s failings, but also of its obligations to you. You have the right to good healthcare, the right to be taken seriously by health professionals. Please remember that, and make sure your daughters know it too. Editor s picks A few things I’m coveting this week The sandal my spring wardrobe’s been waiting for. Sandals, £150, arket.com Fantastic creamy coverage in genius streamlined packaging. Foundation, £18, beautylish.com Chic handbags don’t have to have silly price tags. Bag, £178, reiss.com RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Life The You magazine team reveal their New Year s resolutions December 31, 2021 Susannah Taylor The TLC tools your body will love January 23, 2022 How to stop living in fear February 6, 2022 Susannah Taylor My pick of the fittest leggings February 27, 2022 Women’ s Prize for Fiction 2022 winner announced June 17, 2022 These BBC dramas are returning for a second series June 30, 2022 Susannah Taylor gives the lowdown on nature s little helper – CBD April 17, 2022 The baby names that are banned across the world April 27, 2022 The Queen has released her own emojis May 26, 2022 Sally Brompton horoscopes 27th June-3rd July 2022 June 26, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved