19/04/2026
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England is a step forward.
But what does it mean for women with spinal cord injury (SCI) & cauda equina syndrome (CES)?
As a neurological physiotherapist specialising in pelvic health, I see the reality every day: women navigating care that is complex, fragmented, & often not designed with them in mind.
Evidence from the Spinal Injuries Association shows women with SCI face barriers accessing:
- cancer screening;
- reproductive care;
- maternity services;
- and so much more...
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Including delays in diagnosis due to inaccessible equipment, environments, and training gaps.
Women living with SCI and CES report:
- feeling unheard
- having to repeatedly explain their condition
- difficulty accessing basic screening
- inconsistent support across services
Research reflects the same pattern:
- women with SCI are underrepresented in rehab systems;
- their needs are often overlooked
At the core of this is a visibility gap. Women with SCI & CES don’t fit into one pathway, they sit across many. But services aren’t designed to reflect that.
Compared to others, they are more likely to experience:
- gaps in pelvic health care;
- fragmented pathways;
- poor continuity across the life course;
- limited access to joined-up rehabilitation;
- delays in acute diagnosis (especially CES, where delay can mean lifelong disability)
So what needs to change?
- integrate women's health and pelvic health into neurological care;
- improve clinician knowledge of SCI & CES;
- make services accessible as standard;
- include women in research and data;
- design life-course services;
- join up care across specialties
Women’s health has to mean all women.
