Women Want More Respect from Health Care System - NFP Survey

Women want more time and respect from health care services, not more expensive technology according to a Not for Profit survey.

This is the key finding in a new survey of the health care experiences of more than 750 Australian women. The findings are detailed in a report by Equality Rights Alliance.

The Equality Rights Alliance (ERA) is one of six National Women’s Alliances, led by the YWCA Australia with funding from the Federal Office for Women.

“What most women said they wanted from the health care system was not more technology, or bigger hospitals. They want better relationships with their health care provider, something that doesn’t have to be expensive but could have a big impact on quality of care,” says Emma Davidson, Project Coordinator at Equality Rights Alliance.

She says women want to be treated holistically and with respect.

“That includes cultural sensitivity, sexual identity awareness, respect for different concepts of health, and understanding of the impact of women’s diverse social circumstances,” she says.

Some key findings include:

• Cost, time, and lack of available appointments with health care provider are the most common causes for delay in seeking health care services.
• 55.3% of women said they would not recommend their GP to others;
• 70.3% of women turn to the Internet for information on their health issues and rights, while only 31.7% turn to their GP or a nurse for this information.
• Attitudes and respect, competence and up to date skills, and system issues such as bulk billing were the three areas in which women said health care most needed improvement.
• Women also identified a need for improvement in physical sites, such as accessibility for women with disabilities or the elderly.

The report is being distributed to policy makers, community organisations and is available online at www.equalityrightsalliance.org.au