Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 11 January 2022
I thank Rachael Hamilton for lodging this important motion. I welcome the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Government. Members from across the chamber have made really powerful contributions, and I am grateful to hear them. In particular, I welcome the personal contribution from Evelyn Tweed. Her story will resonate with so many people. It is such a powerful thing to use personal experience to make progress in this space, so I thank her for that. I also thank Gillian Mackay for raising the almost taboo issue of stigma, and for speaking so powerfully about it. She highlighted clearly why it is difficult to make progress on these issues.
I am grateful to Beatrice Wishart for mentioning the north Highland endometriosis group and my constituent Kirsteen Campbell. The women involved in that are the most incredible group of women. I have met them and know that they are absolutely unafraid to speak truth to power, and let me tell members that I am grateful for it.
Endometriosis has a devastating impact on many women in Scotland. It is estimated that the condition affects 1.5 million women in the United Kingdom, but it can be difficult to diagnose, in part as a result of the diverse symptoms and the lack of non-invasive diagnostic procedures. The symptoms can be debilitating and can impact on all aspects of women’s lives, including their relationships, work, education and mental health.
I am really proud to say that, in August 2021, Scotland became the first country in the UK to publish a women’s health plan and that we are committed to improving access for women to appropriate support, speedy diagnosis and best treatment for endometriosis.