Advancing the women's health strategy: a policy lab aimed at improving effective management of hyperemesis gravidarum.

BACKGROUND: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is associated with morbidity and mortality which can be exacerbated by difficulties accessing guideline-recommended treatment. Improving outcomes for women with HG through policy and practice fulfils the vision of the Women's Health Strategy for England. We aimed to align with the Women's Health Strategy by addressing barriers to evidence-based care and to improve effective management of HG. METHODS: A Policy Lab was held in Central London in February 2023 guided by the King's Policy Institute eight-step process for delivery. RESULTS: The Policy lab brought together 22 key stakeholders from a range of backgrounds in clinical medicine, academia, policy, Royal Colleges and patient representatives. The challenges and opportunities for improving the quality and consistency of care for women with HG were discussed. A long list of 26 possible actions were determined of which five have been implemented and a further six are currently being implemented. Key outcomes include an update on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (RCOG) guideline on Nausea and Vomiting to enable standardized care across the healthcare settings, awareness of the condition being raised through a number of high impact conferences/educational meetings and HG now being recognized in the Women's Health Strategy. The Department of Health and Social Care has convened a group focussed on implementing the recommendations of the lab. CONCLUSIONS: This Policy Lab brought together key stakeholders to determine strategies to enhance the Women's Health Strategy and to ensure all women with HG are able to access guideline-recommended evidence-based treatment. Outputs of the Lab to date include updating the RCOG guideline with the support of Royal Colleges from all relevant care sectors to enable standardized practice.