What is the SNP doing to improve women’s health?

Women’s Health is key priority for the SNP in government which is why Scotland was the first country in the UK to publish an ambitious Women’s Health Plan in August 2021.

The Plan sets out actions which aim to address women’s health inequalities by raising awareness around women’s health, improving access to health care for women across their lives, and reducing inequalities in health outcomes for girls and women.

Running over a three-year period from 2021 – 2024, the Plan’s sixty-six actions focus on six priority areas which are:

  • menopause
  • menstrual health
  • endometriosis
  • abortion and contraception
  • post-natal contraception
  • heart health

These have been important first steps and whilst there is still much to do, we shouldn’t underestimate what’s been achieved so far during an already challenging time for NHS Scotland.

The Women’s Health Plan has brought positive change for Scotland.

We now have:

  • a Women’s Health Leads Network
  • a specialist menopause service in every mainland health board and a ‘buddy’ support system in place for the Island health boards
  • a new women’s health platform on NHS Inform
  • a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy for NHS Scotland
  • a Women’s Health Champion

Scotland has a long tradition of being courageous in its approach to women’s health and the ambitious Women’s Health Plan has been no exception.

The Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan improves access to abortion services – with all women to be able to access timely abortion care without judgment.

Since then:

  • NHS Boards have confirmed that telephone consultations are now routinely offered
  • Clinicians have advised that a progestogen-only pill is now offered where this is suitable for the patient
  • The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 was passed in Parliament on 12th June 2024 and has been in force since 24th September 2024

In October 2023, NHS Scotland launched a national Menopause and Menstrual Health Workplace Policy.

The new policy aims to create an environment where women feel confident in raising health issues so solutions can be put in place.

This echoes the SNP’s view that it is important to foster a culture of awareness and compassionate management in the workplace, so women feel confident and comfortable in raising issues around their menopause or menstrual health.