Claire’s Campaign and Tenovus Cancer Care welcome the Health and Social Care Committee’s follow up report into the implementation of the Unheard recommendations. We are grateful to the Committee for taking the time to revisit this issue and for validating what women, families and campaigners have been saying consistently since the original landmark report was published in December 2023.
However, two years on from the landmark report, it is deeply concerning to see in black and white just how little progress has been made. Despite gynaecological cancer being identified by the Welsh Government as a priority tumour site in March 2023, women in Wales are still not consistently receiving the timely, high‑quality care they deserve.
Our evidence to the Committee demonstrates that the original recommendations of the original Unheard report have not been implemented at the pace we – and women – rightfully expected. If gynaecological cancer is truly a priority, the Welsh Government’s response to this report must instil confidence that lessons have been learned and that urgent action will follow.
We began calling for this follow up inquiry as early as last year, while Claire O’Shea was still alive. Tragically, both Claire and Judith Rowlands – who, along with Linda Drew, gave evidence to the original inquiry – have since died. Yet women continue to come forward with experiences of being dismissed, delayed and unheard. We owe it to all three, and to every woman affected, to ensure that their bravery was not in vain.
This follow-up report makes nine new recommendations, in addition to the 26 recommendations contained in the original Unheard report. In our most recent evidence to the Committee, we struggled to find concrete evidence of those original recommendations being achieved in full. Having undertaken our own RAG rating exercise, we were only able to identify clear evidence of progress against three recommendations.
We welcome the cross-party nature of this inquiry and thank Members of the Health and Social Care Committee for once again listening to women affected by gynaecological cancer. The priorities set out in the report closely align with Claire’s Campaign’s renewed calls for action including on workforce capacity, data transparency and accountability.
The report once again highlights ongoing concerns around waiting times. Gynaecological cancers continue to be among the worst‑performing of all cancer types, with just 32% of women starting treatment within the 62-day target in November 2025 – a 9% drop from the previous month. Waiting times continue to fluctuate significantly across Wales, in stark contrast to the broadly steady national average seen across all tumour sites. Alarmingly, in one health board, only two women (13%) started treatment within the target.
Behind these figures are women and families living with the devastating consequences of delay, and in far too many cases a postcode lottery still determines how quickly treatment begins.
We also remain concerned that gynaecological cancer is not being included in the Women’s Health Plan for Wales, and that clear signals suggest this will not change under the current Welsh Government. With an election on the horizon, we are calling on all political parties to commit to correcting this omission and to placing gynaecological cancer firmly at the heart of women’s health policy.
Looking ahead, we will continue to campaign on these issues in the runup to the election and beyond. Gynaecological cancer must be part of the conversation within political parties and in communities.
Just last week, we saw Jess’ Rule come into force in England – a primary care initiative encouraging GP teams to rethink a diagnosis when patients present multiple times with the same symptoms. Supported by the Royal College of GPs, it is a straightforward, cost-conscious intervention that could and should be implemented in Wales.
Following the election, regardless of who forms the next Welsh Government, our campaigning will continue. We owe it to Claire, to Judith, to Linda and to every woman who has courageously shared her story to ensure that no one else experiences what they did.
As a third sector organisation, we would warmly welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to support the implementation of these recommendations. We have a community of women with lived experience who may be willing to contribute meaningfully to any co‑production work, and we would happily contribute to awareness‑raising campaigns.
A new Senedd must bring real progress – and we will continue campaigning until it does.
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Read the report here and the press release here.
Read the original Unheard report published in December 2023 here.
Find more information on the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry on the Senedd website here.
