The Forum has warmly welcomed the government's call for evidence to inform its strategy on men’s health.
Government wants both members of the public and healthcare experts to have their say on ways to tackle biggest health problems facing men as part of its Plan for Change to improve health care for everyone. The 12-week call for evidence (24 April to 17 July 2025) will, the government hopes, 'gather vital insights from the public, health and social care professionals, academics and employers so the government can properly consider how to prevent and tackle the biggest issues facing men from all backgrounds'.
Plan for Change
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
Every day, men across England are dying early from preventable causes. Men are hit harder by a range of conditions, while tragically suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50. Our Plan for Change means we will tackle these issues head on through a men's health strategy, and today's call for evidence is the crucial next step in understanding what works, what doesn't, and how we can design services men will actually use. I urge people to come forward to share their views.
The call for evidence will seek responses on how the government’s Plan for Change can work across the board to improve the health and wellbeing of men, through:
- Prevention – finding the right areas and the right ways to promote healthier behaviours
- Diagnosis and treatment - improving outcomes for health conditions that hit men harder
- Encouragement to come forward - improving men’s access to, engagement with and experience of the health service
This government says it is committed to fixing the NHS and getting a grip on the stark health inequalities that exist across the country through the Plan for Change, which will rebuild the health service and deliver better care for everyone.
Tailored approach
Forum chair Dr John Chisholm said:
We were delighted to hear the government say they believe that with a clearer, more tailored approach for both men and women, their distinct health needs will be met better. This is exactly what the Forum and others have been campaigning for for several years. We're glad to see the government's sense of urgency and their desire to publish a strategy this year. It means we don't have long to submit evidence but we would urge everyone who has something to say on men's health to take part.
Launching the consultation the government highlighted some steps it had already taken to turn the commitments in its women's health strategy into tangible actions such as 'taking urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan, investing in a major AI breast cancer screening trial, and implementing key priority areas outlines in our strategy - alongside taking wider government action to tackle violence against women and girls.'
The government's announcement has been welcomed by many working in men's health including Samaritans and Movember.
The call for evidence will be open for views on the Department of Health and Social Care website until 17 July. The government aims to launch the men's health strategy later this year.
