Women's experiences of long term health conditions

This survey is part of Healthwatch York’s work on women’s health. It will help us better understand women’s experiences of getting a diagnosis, support and treatment for long term conditions. We are aware that women have experienced challenges in doing this in our earlier report on women’s health (https://www.healthwatchyork.co.uk/our-work/gender-healthcare/).

By sharing your experience(s) in this survey, you will help us build a picture of the situation in York. We will use your anonymous feedback in a report and recommendations that we will present to the Health and Wellbeing Board and share with local health and care organisations to improve local services and support.

Note you can save responses at any time and return to complete the survey later.

A carer can complete the survey on behalf of a person with these health conditions.

The closing date for responses is 31 March 2026. If you would like a paper copy or support to complete the survey online, contact us on 01904 621133.

	Yes	Somewhat	No	Not applicable
Communicated with effectively	Communicated with effectively Yes	Communicated with effectively Somewhat	Communicated with effectively No	Communicated with effectively Not applicable
Respected/shown respect	Respected/shown respect Yes	Respected/shown respect Somewhat	Respected/shown respect No	Respected/shown respect Not applicable
Given trauma informed care if appropriate	Given trauma informed care if appropriate Yes	Given trauma informed care if appropriate Somewhat	Given trauma informed care if appropriate No	Given trauma informed care if appropriate Not applicable

Women's experiences of long term health conditions

1. What condition(s) do you have? (Tick all appropriate)

2. What were your main symptoms before you were diagnosed?

3. How long has your life been impacted by a long-term health condition?

4. How much has your long-term condition(s) impacted on your life?

5. What are the impacts of your long-term condition(s)? (Tick all that apply)

6. How long did it take for you to get diagnosed after first seeking help? Please give the number of months/years or if you are still waiting.

7. Did you experience any of the following when you were trying to get a diagnosis? (Tick all that apply)

8. Who made your diagnosis?

9. After diagnosis, were you offered any treatment?

10.
If you had to wait for the treatment, how long did you wait?

11. If you had to wait, were you offered any support/information while waiting? If yes, what was it? If no, is there anything that could have helped?

12. Did you see any improvements in your condition following any treatment?

13. Have you been offered any other type of support, eg referral to the Yorkshire Fatigue Clinic, the pain clinic or other service? If yes, what were you offered and did it help?

14. Have you sought help or support independently including doing your own research? If yes, what was it and did it help? And did it include seeking private medical support?

15. Did you get help or support from any voluntary sector or peer support organisations, local or national? If yes, who are they, how did they help and would you recommend them?

16. Has your long-term condition(s) affected any other health conditions or the care given for other conditions?

17. What would a good NHS service look like for you or other people with the same symptoms / condition(s) as you?

18. Do you believe your gender affected how you were treated or how your symptoms were understood?

19. Did you feel you were:

20. Do you feel that your symptoms affected your ability to access care eg dealing with telephone triage, long wait times, stairs, transport etc?

21. Is there anything else you want to tell us?