Naga Munchetty slams doctors for never taking her health concerns seriously for decades

BBC newsreader Naga Munchetty has lashed out at the NHS after claiming she was “never taken seriously” by doctors.

Munchetty said that she has spent decades being ‘failed and gaslit’ by the healthcare system after her symptoms of heavy periods, repeated vomiting and unbearable pain were ignored.

When speaking before the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee last Wednesday, the BBC presenter, newsreader, and journalist shared that for the 35 years she sought assistance for her symptoms, she was repeatedly told to endure it and considered to be normal by NHS general practitioners and medical professionals.

She revealed that doctors repeatedly told her that “everyone goes through this”.

“I was especially told this by male doctors who have never experienced a period but also by female doctors who hadn’t experienced period pain,” she added.

In November last year, she was finally diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition in which the uterine lining starts growing into the muscular walls of the womb.

Munchetty’s diagnosis followed a two-week period of heavy bleeding and intense pain, after which she asked her husband to call for an ambulance. It was only at this point that her concerns were taken seriously, and she was seen by a specialist in women’s reproductive health. This specialist recommended that she consider private healthcare to avoid the extended waiting lists within the NHS.

Acknowledging that she was “privileged” to have access to private healthcare, she expressed that this was the sole occasion when she felt comfortable asserting her right to seek understanding and explanations from her gynaecologist. In this instance, she did not experience guilt about potentially occupying too much of her GP’s time, given the busy waiting room conditions.

Munchetty along with Vicky Pattison, a television and media personality, provided evidence as part of the committee’s investigation into the obstacles women face when it comes to being diagnosed and receiving treatment for gynaecological and reproductive conditions.

The committee’s scope also encompasses examining disparities in diagnosis and treatment, as well as evaluating the impact of women’s experiences on their health and overall quality of life.

Both women shared extensive personal accounts of enduring challenges, spanning many decades, as they attempted to lead regular lives and maintain their work commitments while facing recurring belittlement and disappointments from healthcare professionals.