Hansard

We have received advice from clinical experts in the field, and they, as well as the charity Bliss, which advocates for parents, all support the reduction in neonatal intensive care units in Scotland.

Sadly, pregnancy does not always go the way that we would want it to, and the loss of a baby, no matter at what stage of a pregnancy, is a traumatic experience that can have a profound impact on families. Improving miscarriage care and support for women across Scotland is a key priority for me, and we will shortly publish a miscarriage care delivery framework to help NHS boards to drive progress and focus on areas where improvement is required.

Last year, we launched a memorial book and certificate for those who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks, because we know that, for many parents, formally recognising the baby that they lost provides some comfort and validation during an incredibly painful time. The service is free of charge and completely voluntary, and historical applications are welcome. More information on how to apply can be found on the National Records of Scotland website. I thank baby loss charities such as Sands, Held In Our Hearts and others for their considered support on that.

The Government is also determined to see the end of cervical cancer. The World Health Organization director general has announced a global initiative to eliminate cervical cancer, and we are dedicated to supporting that vital cause. As I set out in Parliament in January this year, we have already taken positive steps. We have established an expert group, chaired by Professor Glasier, and three working groups, which will focus on human papillomavirus vaccination, cervical screening and cancer treatment.

Good progress is being made through the HPV vaccination programme, and recent research undertaken by Public Health Scotland, in collaboration with the universities of Strathclyde and Edinburgh, shows that there have been no cases of cervical cancer in fully vaccinated women who received their full course of HPV vaccination aged 12 and 13 years old. The message to girls and young women is clear: get vaccinated. Elimination of cervical cancer is within our grasp.

I will move on to abortion. On 24 September this year, the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force. The Government was pleased to support the bill that became that act, which was introduced by Gillian Mackay, and I am sure that women across Scotland were encouraged that it won support from across the Parliament. It has long been the Scottish Government’s ambition to ensure that Scotland is a place that people can look to as a beacon for women’s rights. The women’s health plan committed to a review of abortion services in Scotland to ensure that services are meeting the needs of women. We want abortion to be seen first and foremost as a healthcare matter and as a way by which women make their choices over their health.

That is just some of the work that we are doing to improve the health of women and girls. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and I look forward to what will come next. Supporting women and girls to enjoy the best possible health throughout their lives will continue to be our guiding principle as we develop the next phase of the women’s health plan. We know that it is still the case that many women and girls do not enjoy the best possible health. We know that there are women and girls living in poverty, where inequalities are even greater, and I acknowledge here today that we must do more to address them. That is not something that I have shied away from, and therefore I am happy to support Carol Mochan’s amendment.

To further achieve our ambition for women and girls in Scotland, we will look at what has changed in Scotland, both positively and negatively, since August 2021; build on the plan’s existing priorities; and reflect on where additional focus is needed. We will consider the many factors that make up a healthy life, asking what we can do better or differently to support women and girls of all ages and at all stages of life. Over the coming months, we will continue our conversation with women and girls, healthcare professionals and academics, as well as the third sector across Scotland to ask what they want to see in the next phase of the women’s health plan. We will review and update our evidence base, ensuring that any future work is grounded in the most up-to-date research.

Early discussions indicate that women would like to focus on pelvic health; bone health; postmenopausal health and ageing well; and waits for gynaecology care and treatment. However, we are just at the beginning of that work, and I look forward to hearing proposals from members from across the chamber today.

It is a huge privilege to hold the position of minister for women’s health and to be able to listen to women and girls across Scotland and hear about their ideas and ambitions as to what can be done differently so that all women and girls experience the best health and healthcare throughout their lives. I look forward to today’s debate and hope that, across Parliament, we can find common cause to support that ambition.

I move,

That the Parliament acknowledges the longstanding health inequalities faced by women and believes that it is vital that services and health outcomes are improved for women and girls; notes the progress made through implementation of the Women’s Health Plan as a first step towards addressing these inequalities, in particular the appointment and work of the first Women’s Health Champion; thanks hard-working NHS staff and all those who have contributed to the progress to date; welcomes the commitment from the Scottish Government to work with women and girls across Scotland in developing the next iteration of the plan, and thanks everyone who has contributed their lived experience to the priorities of the Women’s Health Plan.