Former Lib adviser launches women’s health help
After terrible experiences navigating SA’s health system, one former Liberal political candidate has made it her mission to help other women in the same boat.
When former health policy adviser Dr Anna Finizio struggled for a decade to receive an endometriosis diagnosis, she had “terrible experiences” navigating the health system in South Australia.
“There was one time where a GP told me to just have a baby and all of it [endometriosis] would go away,” she said.
Those experiences have led to the former health policy adviser and women’s health advocate launching a self-funded online health directory focused on women’s health practitioners.
Finizio believed HerHealth Guide was Australia’s first women-centred directory that invited community members to nominate health care practitioners for inclusion who have provided them with a positive experience.
The community-powered pilot was launched on Monday to help bridge the gap between women and the healthcare services they need.
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“Women are busy doing it all, I want to reduce barriers to care and the unacceptable delays that remain in the diagnosis of women’s health conditions like endometriosis,” Finizio said.
The guide was launched via social media this week, which is Women’s Health Week, with Finizio saying “there was a huge response”.
“Hundreds of people are nominating practitioners, there were around 60 nominated initially and this is set to double by the end of the week,” she said.
According to Endometriosis Australia, it takes an average of around 6.5 years for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis in Australia.
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Finizio, who stood as the Liberal candidate for Dunstan in the March State Election, hoped the new platform would provide better healthcare, information, support and help to remove barriers that prevent women from seeking care.
“Conditions like endometriosis and postnatal depression can be debilitating. Finding the right care isn’t just convenient, it can be life-changing,” she said.
“So often, we rely on word of mouth or experiences within our own networks when it comes to finding healthcare. Not all women have access to this type of information or support.”
Now there was a statewide call for women to nominate trusted women’s health practitioners and clinics for inclusion, while health care practitioners could also nominate themselves.
“This platform addresses the information gap about not knowing where to go or where to look when you’ve got health concerns,” Finizio said.
“Sometimes knowing where to start can be a barrier for women; it’s a resource. Women can take those first steps towards better health.”
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than 61 per cent of women in Australia are living with at least one long-term health condition.
“I want this to be a resource to help women; I know women are time-poor. It saves women time and helps connect them to care sooner,” Finizio said.
Dr Carla Brion, a women’s health practitioner, featured as part of the HerHealth Guide launch.
“As a mum, I understand how hard it is to prioritise your own care. HerHealth Guide will help connect women’s health care practitioners across SA,” she said.
The theme of this year’s Women’s Health Week, which started on September 7, is “Do it anyway”, encouraging women to take steps to improve their health.
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