Question reference: S5W-36015
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 17 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, to improve understanding of women's experiences of the health and care system, whether it will consider a similar approach to the UK Government, which has issued a call for evidence on this as part of its new women's health strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government committed to the development and implementation of a Women’s Health Plan. The aim of the plan will be to reduce women’s health inequalities by raising awareness around women's health and improving access to healthcare for women throughout life. Development of the plan is well underway and the present Government plans for it to be published later in 2021.
To inform the development of the plan we have brought together experts from a range of specialties, in the public and third sectors, who work on women’s related health issues to share their expertise. This work has also been informed by lived experience engagement, facilitated and led by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE).
A lived experience survey, which received over 400 responses, and a series of lived experience engagement events have been held to ensure women’s voices and experiences are central to development and implementation of the Plan. A report from the survey has been published on the ALLIANCE website and a report from the engagement session will be published when finalised.