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Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has called for ‘more support’ in regards to a health condition as she made a ‘shocking’ admission. The Geordie Shore star is currently taking part on the popular BBC dancing competition alongside professional dancer Kai Widdrington. With Saturday night (October 25) marking icons week on the series, Vicky was taking on the role of her fellow Newcastle native Cheryl Cole for a routine performed to Fight For This Love. Following their Couple’s Choice routine, the judges were full of praise for Vicky and Kai’s dance, giving them a score of 33 out of 40 points as they made it safely through to Halloween week. Away from her Strictly journey, Vicky has called on the Health Secretary Wes Streeting to provide better funding to ‘close the gender gap completely in terms of female reproductive health’. The former I’m A Celebrity winner has been open about being diagnosed with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Having suffered with insomnia, fatigue and vomiting, Vicky was told by various doctors that she had pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Eventually deciding to go private with her healthcare, Vicky learned that she actually had PMDD. Appearing on Tuesday (October 28) morning’s edition of Good Morning Britain , Vicky said she told the Health Secretary during a meeting the day prior about the importance of having more support for women struggling with reproductive health issues. “I said it needs better funding. We need to close that gender gap completely in terms of female reproductive health. “I said we also need better education and training for people within the NHS , medical professionals, better mental health support for women struggling, and also just more research. “And he said he was going to go direct to the people who are dealing with the funding and address that,” she said. Vicky continued: “I’m really passionate about making change within this space, helping women, offering them a better quality of life when they are suffering with female reproductive health issues. “The things they are struggling with are different, different female reproductive health issues, but the one common thread is that when they go and visit the NHS, a doctor, whatever, they are ignored, dismissed, in some way made to feel like this is in their head, they are hysterical, and that is the medical misogyny that we’re trying to tackle. “Their quality of life has been significantly affected. These conditions are debilitating and heartbreaking, and they’re affecting three in five women in the UK. This isn’t something we can ignore any more.” Prior to her latest meeting, Vicky previously provided evidence to MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee as part of its inquiry into women’s reproductive health.
