Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 15 June 2021
Jackie Baillie will be aware that that issue does not fall within my portfolio, but I am well aware of the fact that more women are carers, and that that is one of the factors that impact on their health. I will take a cross-Government approach to that work. I am very keen for us to achieve cross-parliamentary consensus on the need for such issues to be tackled so that we can progress the work to improve women’s health, with everyone in agreement.
A significant amount of work is being undertaken across Government to improve women’s health with regard to mesh, maternal health and screening services. The plan will build on those successes and align with Covid-19 recovery.
I finish with another quote from Caroline Criado Perez’s book, which I recommend to everyone in the chamber:
“The evidence that women are being let down by the medical establishment is overwhelming ... half the world’s population are being dismissed, disbelieved and ignored.”
Our ambition is for a Scotland where health outcomes are equitable right across the population so that all women can enjoy the best possible health throughout their lives. Our women’s health plan will provide a foundation for us all—in Government, health and social care, and society as a whole—to work together to achieve that. I look forward to listening to members’ views and I hope that we can find common cause across the Parliament in better listening to, understanding and meeting the needs of women in Scotland.
I move,
That the Parliament welcomes that the Scottish Government will publish a Women’s Health Plan within the first 100 days of the current parliamentary session; notes that the plan will seek to improve support and services for the health and wellbeing needs of women and girls at every stage of their lives; believes that it is vital that health and care services for menopause, endometriosis and heart healthcare need to substantially improve; recognises that the causes of many healthcare issues facing women and girls are rooted in health and income inequalities, and that actions to address these are needed alongside the enhancement of services, and believes that, if a broad consensus on women’s health can be realised, Scotland has the opportunity to become a global leader in this field.