A Growing Crisis in Women’s Health

More than 900 women in Hawke’s Bay are currently waiting for specialist gynaecology care, with many enduring severe pain and long-term health consequences due to prolonged delays. The situation has sparked growing concern among patients, healthcare professionals, and community advocates, who argue that the current system is failing women in critical need of timely treatment.

Personal Stories of Suffering

Ally Naylor, a resident of Napier, has been battling adenomyosis, a painful uterine condition, for years. When she was referred to a gynaecologist in November 2023, she was told to expect a 24-month wait. Her condition has since worsened, and her doctor has recommended a hysterectomy within three months. However, due to staff shortages, Naylor has been informed that her surgery is unlikely to occur before the end of the year.

"It’s excruciatingly painful," Naylor said. "Every month, it feels like someone is yanking the inside of my uterus out of me for six days straight." The physical toll has been immense, leaving her bedridden for days and unable to perform basic tasks like walking her dog during her period.

Mental and Economic Impact

The crisis is not just physical. Naylor described a moment in December when her mental health "broke" due to the relentless pain and lack of support. She has since made a slow recovery with the help of family, therapy, and a growing support network. She recently started a Facebook group called Hawke’s Bay Gynaecologist Crisis, which has attracted over 50 women sharing similar experiences.

"This is 100% a crisis," Naylor said. "When you have women that are affected and not available to work or look after their children, there’s massive flow-on impacts to the local economy and to family structure."

Systemic Challenges and Workforce Shortages

Rika Hentschel, acting group director of operations for Health NZ, acknowledged the challenges facing the region. As of June 30, 2025, there were 912 women on the Gynaecology Specialist Outpatient Waitlist. Hentschel noted that the health system is under significant pressure due to high demand and workforce shortages, which are affecting planned care across the board.

Health NZ has taken steps to address the issue, including outsourcing gynaecological procedures to private providers and actively recruiting additional senior medical officers. In the past 12 months, 542 patients have been discharged from the waitlist, with over 50 people being seen each month since March.

The Role of GPs and Community Support

Dr. Samantha Newman, a Napier-based GP who provides pipelle biopsies for women with abnormal bleeding, described the waitlist as "just the icing on the cake." Many women are not even referred for specialist care because their cases are deemed low priority or outright denied. Newman noted that the system often isolates women’s health, failing to provide a multidisciplinary approach that includes mental health, hormone management, and reproductive care.

"Doctors aren’t even referring because they’re like, ‘well, you’re not going to get seen,’" Newman said. She also runs the Rose Gold Trust, a women’s health charity, to help bridge the growing gap in care. Newman believes that addressing the waitlist requires more than just adding appointments — it demands a systemic overhaul.

"There aren’t enough doctors, theatre spaces, money. But that doesn’t mean we need to lose the women and the whānau at the centre of it, which this system has done," she said.

A Call for Change

As the waitlist continues to grow, many are calling for urgent action to improve access to gynaecology care in Hawke’s Bay. Patients like Naylor and the anonymous Facebook group member, who has been waiting nearly two years for a public consultation, are urging policymakers and healthcare leaders to prioritize women’s health and invest in long-term solutions.

"I could have actually done really well with my life, but it’s really held me back in so many ways," the anonymous member said. "It’s just been so incredibly frustrating with our public health system and just not being able to get any help."

With the current system failing to meet the needs of women in crisis, the call for reform is growing louder. Until then, the pain and suffering of hundreds of women in Hawke’s Bay will continue to go unaddressed.