NHS Change needs male voices

In November, together we achieved something big. The UK Government announced the first ever Men’s Health Strategy, to address the biggest health problems affecting men and prevent too many men dying too young.

But, we aren’t putting our feet up yet. While we await next steps on the strategy launch, we need our community to keep men’s health on the agenda. We need you.

The new Men’s Health Strategy will play a key role in the government’s 10-Year Health Plan to fix the NHS, which they are currently asking for views on.

While men’s health expands beyond just the NHS, we have the power to start influencing health service change straight away – and we know that men are currently not responding in the numbers needed.

How you can get involved

If you are over 16 and live in England you can take part in this NHS Change survey and share your opinions on what the future of the NHS should look like.

The survey asks you to share your your own experiences of healthcare, insights into how the NHS is currently performing, and your thoughts on what needs to change.

Your voice and experience matters. And it's your voice and experience that will shape the future of men’s health in the NHS.

The survey closes in Spring 2025. So don't hesitate, fill this form and let your voice be heard now.

Writers block? Here's some tips...

We've submitted our thoughts, which highlight recommendations from the 'Real Face of Men’s Health’ report, based on evidence of what we know works for men. Here's some ideas to get your juices flowing:

Moving more care from hospitals to communities:

• The UK government should invest in place-based health promotion programmes for men that meet people where they already are. This includes embracing the power of sports settings, social settings, the workplace, and online space.

Making better use of technology in health and care:

• NHS Health Check: Less than 40% of men currently take up the invitation to attend an NHS Health Check. Technology can play a transformative role in improving access to health checks for men in the UK through digital health assessments. These tools lower barriers to entry by providing a more convenient and less intimidating alternative to in-person appointments for men, and alleviating pressure on GP surgeries.
• Screening for men’s common health issues: Expansion of online health services that screen for men’s common health issues and engaging men online for in-clinic checks and appointments.

Focusing on preventing sickness, not just treating it:

• Increasing men’s access to health checks: Screening programmes and designated health checks can be powerful measures to improve men’s health given that the major burden of disease in men is due to premature mortality from preventable injury and disease.
• Improving men’s health literacy: Poor levels of physical and mental health literacy are associated with lower levels of preventive care, use of services and screenings. The UK government should therefore strengthen health literacy in men. Health literacy also supports men in finding, understanding and using health information. With these skills men can overcome barriers to negotiating and navigating their entry into the health system itself.

Sharing your personal experiences:

• We know that many of you have already shared your personal experiences with us. These have been incredibly powerful in helping us to get this far and would provide key insights and compelling evidence for the NHS and government about the need for urgent change, should you wish to include them in your response to the NHS survey.

Sharing your ideas for change: We've advocated for the following changes to improve men’s health. So we ask you to consider including:

• Idea 1: Deliver the effective, time sensitive, and funded UK Men’s Health Strategy, which the government committed to in November 2024. The strategy should respond to men in all their diversities, improve health systems and policies by ensuring they are gender specific, and cover all government departments.
• Idea 2: Develop a gender responsive health system and workforce. This should be done by transforming the health system and workforce to have the capacity and skill to respond to the needs of men, in all their diversities. 
• Idea 3: Undertake research and gather the right data to understand how men engage with their health and the system at large. 
• Idea 4: Drive demand in men’s health service usage through support and education.

Every voice matters

Every voice matters and the more input there is, the more power our case for change has. We know that we wouldn’t have been able to get this far without our Mo community. So we thank you for all of your input and support so far.

Take part in this NHS Change survey now and be part of the change.