Women’s voices must be heard and their pain must not be dismissed as something they simply have to endure, Wales’ first Women’s Health Minister has said.

Delyth Jewell made the comments during a Women’s Health Summit at the Temple of Peace, where clinicians, researchers and women with lived experience came together to discuss how healthcare services can better respond to women’s needs.

The summit focused on concerns around the normalisation of pain in women’s healthcare, including experiences of clinical procedures and long-term health conditions.

Ms Jewell said too many women had felt their concerns were not listened to and vowed to help change the culture around women’s health.

“For too long, women's health has been treated as an afterthought,” she said.

“No woman should be afraid to speak up about pain or things that don't feel right.

“Women should be believed about their bodies, and I am determined to change the culture that has let too many women down.”

The minister said women’s experiences had already helped shape Wales’ Women’s Health Plan and would continue to influence future improvements.

“Women's voices helped create the Women's Health Plan. Now we're making sure those voices continue to shape what comes next,” she added.

The summit forms part of ongoing work to strengthen women’s healthcare across Wales, with a focus on ensuring patients have a greater say in how services are designed and delivered.

Following the event, new minimum standards for service user engagement will be developed, aimed at ensuring women’s experiences continue to guide the delivery and future priorities of the Women’s Health Plan.

The Welsh Government says work will also begin to refresh and strengthen the plan, including gathering feedback directly from women across Wales.