A WOMEN’S health plan published by the Scottish Government will aim to “reduce avoidable inequalities”, Health Minister Maree Todd has said.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made mention of the plan when she announced her administration’s intentions for the first 100 days of the new parliamentary term.
Speaking in Holyrood yesterday, Todd said the plan, which has been in development for the last 18 months, will initially focus on some key priorities.
Improving abortion services, contraception and sexual health, menopause and menstrual health and women’s heart health will be the focus initially.
“These reasons and many others are why within 100 days of this new term, we will publish a women’s health plan,” she said.
“The plan will reduce avoidable inequalities in health outcomes for women throughout their lives.”
A survey, Todd said, has already been carried out to ensure women’s voices are heard in the development of the plan.
“We want to give women a say in how we shape services for the future and it’s absolutely crucial that we listen to women and that we trust women.”
The minister added that the plan would take a holistic, “life course” approach to health, and will emphasise “the importance of protecting and promoting health at key stages of life”.
Effective communication, Todd said, would allow women to be able to make informed decisions about their own health and put an end to the “doctor knows best” approach.
Annie Wells, the Tory health spokeswoman, said an “urgent and renewed focus” on women’s health was needed.
“The Scottish Conservatives have welcomed the Government’s commitment to a women’s health plan,” she said. “We on these benches look forward to the opportunity to carefully scrutinise the Government’s plan following its publication.”
Wells tabled an amendment to the Government’s motion yesterday, which called for a ring-fenced fund to be set up to tackle the treatment times backlog caused by the pandemic.
Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan said: “An absolutely necessary step is to recognise today as an opportunity to right the wrongs suffered by Scotland’s mesh survivors and give a guarantee that they will be able to access the compensation they deserve.”
Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay added: “My own parents were told when I first started experiencing symptoms of my disability that I was embellishing
my hearing loss and that the dizziness I was experiencing was probably the link to my periods or stress. Women need to be believed when they go for help.”
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