The event will bring together 150 key people across the region including clinicians, commissioners, patients, medical student, business innovators and academics to help tackle health inequalities for women.

It will also mark the launch of a key new partnership between the Medical School, the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB), Discovery Park and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (HIKSS)

An overview of the inequalities in health outcomes and care in our region will be shared with a focus on three key areas: the menopause, cardiovascular disease and mental health.

It’s only been in recent years that a national conversation has been started around menopause and HRT despite the fact it will affect over 50% of the population.

A recent ‘Bias and Biology’ from the British Heart Foundation, showed how over a ten-year period, more than 8,200 women died needlessly following a heart attack. Women experiencing cardiac arrest are 50% more likely to be given a wrong diagnosis and less likely to be prescribed follow-up medication to prevent another attack.

Mental health problems affect both men and women but not in equal measure. Research shows that young women and women are more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and be at risk of self-harming.

Dr Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer and Women’s Health Champion for NHS Kent and Medway, said:

“I’m delighted we’re partnering to focus on women’s health. The national Women’s Strategy calls for changes in women’s health and wellbeing services and we’ve just conducted a piece of work where we’ve heard from 890 women living in Kent and Medway about what works well and what needs to work better.

“We’ve heard some very difficult stories about women’s experiences and the data shows that although women live longer on average, they live a longer period of their lives in ill health than men. We need to change this.

“It will be a great day of bringing thinkers, movers and shakers into a room to work together to improve the lives of women.”

Jane Kennedy, Chief Business Officer, Discovery Park said: “Discovery Park is excited to join forces for the Women's Health Innovation Summit and to work with our partners to collectively transform the narrative surrounding women's health, making a positive impact on the lives of women in our local community."

Dr.Maryann Ferreux, Medical Director at Health Innovation KSS, added: “There is clear evidence to show that women are not receiving the same level of care, investigation or treatment for common and important diseases when compared to men and that this inequality leads to worse clinical outcomes in many key areas. At Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, we are on a mission to reduce health inequalities for women, by ensuring that all women have access to the best quality health and care. We are thrilled to be working towards this mission with our partners at NHS Kent and Medway ICB, Kent and Medway Medical School, and Discovery Park. The Kent and Medway Women’s Health Summit is going to bring together those leading the charge and will provide a fantastic opportunity to be part of the conversation – anyone passionate about driving positive change for women's wellbeing will not want to miss out!”

The high-profile panel of speakers includes Dr Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, Dr Maryann Ferreux, Medical Director, Health Innovation KSS, Professor Chris Holland, Founding Dean, KMMS, Dr Mayur Vibhuti, Chief Clinical Information Officer NHS Kent & Medway ICB, Jane Kennedy, Chief Business Officer, Discovery Park and Natasha Walton, Deputy Director Digital Diagnostics and Transformation, NHS England South East.

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