Meeting of the Parliament 12 November 2024
I very much regret that Tess White wants to lower the tone of what has so far been a consensual debate. That problem stems from her, and I ask her to reflect on those remarks.
I want to re-foster, if I can, the atmosphere of consensus by paying tribute to Gillian Mackay, who spoke eloquently just before me and who spearheaded single-handedly the bill that she brought to the Parliament on safe access zones around clinics that offer abortion and other reproductive services. Our commitment must remain steadfast, so that every woman has the right to make informed choices about her health, supported by the highest standards of care and free from abuse, intimidation, stigma and the dog-whistle politics that we have just heard from Tess White.
As we have heard, the women’s health plan, which was introduced in 2021, marked a step in the right direction. The plan rightly acknowledges that advancing women’s health is about not just reproductive rights but treating women’s health needs holistically, giving priority to issues that are often dismissed and stigmatised, and recognising, in particular, the abundant health inequalities that exist in Scotland in 2024. That includes expanding access to menopause care, ensuring rapid support for postnatal contraception and focusing on often-overlooked conditions such as cardiac disease, which affects women differently yet has historically received far less attention and financing than heart disease in men.
I welcome the focus that has been brought by the implementation of the plan and, in particular, the appointment of Professor Anna Glasier as the national women’s health champion, but it is important that we do not rest on our laurels. We must recognise the significant work that is still needed. For example, despite increasing awareness, many women who suffer from endometriosis continue to endure years of severe pain before they are even given a proper diagnosis or a pathway to treatment. The delays disrupt careers, education and family life. We know that such delays only compound endometriosis and make it worse, increasing the chances of it spreading and damaging multiple organs. We need to treat it with the same urgency that we offer at the moment for similar conditions. We are failing in that regard.
Similarly, coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death among women in Scotland, claiming the lives of more than 2,500 every year—twice as many women as are killed by breast cancer. I am pleased that the report has focused on that. The proposed new specialist centre in NHS Forth Valley is especially welcome.
However, we need to go further. We need to ensure that those women who are most at risk are given the advice and support that they need. That includes those who are experiencing early menopause or high blood pressure during pregnancy.
We also need to improve access to menopause care more generally, particularly in rural areas. That is something of a postcode lottery and provision remains inconsistent, with services stretched across the board. Menopause is a condition that will affect every woman in Scotland. It is not a surprise; it is something that we can plan for. However, I am struck by the lack of provision—or the patchy provision—in so many parts of the country. Just this week, I was visited by a constituent who lives in our nation’s capital, who is going through menopause and is unable to access the basic advice and support that she needs.
It goes without saying that the Government has a duty to ensure equal access to treatment for all women, no matter where they live. We need each NHS board to actively prioritise women’s health in its area.
Women’s health can be disproportionately impacted at times of financial strain. That is a gendered issue that highlights the need to remain focused, even as NHS budgets are at full stretch. For the plan to succeed, it needs to be backed fully by the Government, and we need to ensure that we have appropriate staffing—safe staffing—and regular updates on progress. Without those, it risks becoming just another set of promises.
Liberal Democrats remain focused on improving primary care, which is essential to women’s health—indeed, it is essential to the health of all of us. Quick access to general practitioners, mental health specialists and services such as physiotherapy can make all the difference. We want to have world-class mental health services across Scotland, which could provide much-needed support for women who are facing postnatal depression or who are at risk of postpartum psychosis.
We have come so far, but there is still a great distance to go when it comes to supporting perinatal mental health in Scotland. I raised that issue repeatedly during the previous session, but I am dismayed to see that we have made very little progress on it.
I reflect on the cultural change that still needs to take place. Too often, women’s health concerns are met with stigma or outright dismissal, or they are the subject of dog-whistle politics. We saw that clearly in the experience of the survivors of transvaginal mesh, who had to fight for years to have their pain recognised and treated. Health issues that disproportionately affect women deserve to be treated with the same urgency, attention and seriousness as any other condition, and they must be met with dignity and respect. I hope that the health plan that we debate today marks a renewed and invigorated commitment to seeing those changes through, so that we continue to walk the path to a better, healthier future for women in Scotland.