Chamber and committees

All retailers selling alcohol that despatches from a location in Scotland, including those selling online, are required to hold a licence to sell alcohol and must comply with the Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) requirements as a condition of licence.

The Scottish Government set out in its final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) an assessment of the effects of MUP on Scottish businesses, including in relation to cross-border and online sales.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with business and industry, and a range of other key stakeholders, following the price increase and continuation of MUP from 30 September. As a developing market the Scottish Government continues to keep the effect and impact of online sales of alcohol under review.

Through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made information on a range of health topics, including endometriosis, available to women online and in one place. Reciprocal connections have been made throughout the platform with other Scottish Government sites such as Parent Club and with third sector organisations including Endometriosis UK and Endo SOS helping to raise awareness of the condition and supporting women to access the information they need when they need it.

In March 2023 we delivered an engagement campaign in partnership with Young Scot to increase young people’s awareness of endometriosis. The campaign primarily targeted those aged 11 to 25 in Scotland and provided information on how to support a young person in the process of diagnosis or who may have endometriosis.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has continued to support the Women’s Health Plan through their dedicated lived experience programme. This has included the development of the conversation café toolkit to encourage information sharing and peer support on women’s health including menstrual health and endometriosis.

We have no plans to establish a national advice helpline for people with endometriosis.

Through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made a range of information on endometriosis available to women online.

This includes signposting to peer support groups and organisations such as Endometriosis UK who operate a free, confidential helpline run by trained volunteers who have a personal experience of endometriosis.

There are also national helplines including 111, Breathing Space and The Samaritans for anyone who is struggling and needs someone to talk to.

The Scottish Government has supported the development of The Endometriosis Care Pathway for NHS Scotland which aims to support healthcare professionals to provide a holistic approach and timely care for those with endometriosis and endometriosis-like symptoms. All NHS Boards should be taking steps to implement the pathway.

To support health care professionals to improve their knowledge and understanding of endometriosis NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has been commissioned to create a bespoke training package and framework focussed on menopause and menstrual health, which includes endometriosis, for healthcare professionals in Primary Care.

The Scottish Government has also worked with NHS Education for Scotland to deliver an endometriosis masterclass for health care professionals across Scotland on diagnosis, treatment and current research into endometriosis.

Additionally, through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made a range of information on endometriosis available to women online. This has included the Endometriosis UK Pain and Symptom Diary as well as access to a self-help tool on periods and mental wellbeing.

A menstrual health symptom questionnaire has also been developed by NHS Education for Scotland and is available through the TURAS platform for healthcare professionals to share with women. It will also be available for women to access directly via the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform shortly.

All health professionals should consider the mental health and wellbeing needs of their patient as part of their care and a support.

The Endometriosis Care Pathway for NHS Scotland aims to support healthcare professionals to provide a holistic approach and timely care for those with endometriosis and endometriosis-like symptoms. This includes advising practitioners to assess women’s individual support needs, taking into account their symptoms, priorities, desire for fertility, aspects of daily living, work and study, cultural background, and their physical, psychosexual and emotional needs.

Through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made a range of information on endometriosis available to women online.

This includes signposting to peer support groups and organisations such as Endometriosis UK who operate a free, confidential helpline run by trained volunteers who have a personal experience of endometriosis.

The platform also hosts a range of content on mental health with several self-help guides to help people manage their mental wellbeing including a menstrual health and mental wellbeing self help guide and another to support those living with chronic pain. There is also signposting to national helplines including 111, Breathing Space and The Samaritans for anyone who is struggling and needs someone to talk to.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Through the Women’s Health Plan we are taking steps to support both women and health professionals to learn more about endometriosis, the symptoms and treatment options to improve the diagnostic process. Our Women’s Health Plan 2021 - 2024 Final Report on progress provides further details of our work to date.

When developing the next phase of the Plan we will build on this progress and seek to ensure that all women receive a timely diagnosis for endometriosis together with access to the care and support that they need.

For patients on a waiting list to see a healthcare specialist there is information available on NHS Inform with advice on health and wellbeing whilst they await their appointment. More information can be found at: Waiting well | NHS inform.

As policy implementation and delivery is carried out primarily within health boards, the total budget figures for policy implementation are not centrally held.

The Scottish Government’s published budgets for the last five years, including details of planned spending, are available online.

Scottish Budget: 2024 to 2025 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget: 2023 to 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget 2021 to 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget 2020-2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

In March 2023 we delivered an engagement campaign in partnership with Young Scot to increase young people’s awareness of endometriosis. The campaign is aimed at those aged 11 to 25 in Scotland. The campaign includes information about endometriosis symptoms, provides information about available support and provides information on how to support a young person in the process of diagnosis or who may have endometriosis.

Through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made information on a range of health topics available to women online and in one place. Connections have been made throughout the platform with content on menstrual health symptoms, like heavy menstrual bleeding, linking to more information on possible causes, such as endometriosis, helping to raise awareness of the condition and supporting women to access the information they need when they need it.

As of December 2024 there have been:

• Almost 65,000 users on the life sections
• Over 986,000 views on the Periods pages
• Just under 3.2 million views on the Menopause pages

More information about the Women’s Health Platform can be found in the Women’s Health Plan Final Report.

This data is not routinely collected however, the Report “Dismissed, ignored and belittled - The long road to endometriosis diagnosis in the UK” published by Endometriosis UK in March 2024 states that a survey of 4,371 people who have received a diagnosis of endometriosis shows ...52% had visited A&E at least once. 26% of respondents visited A&E 3 or more times with symptoms prior to diagnosis.

Our ambition is for a Scotland where health outcomes are equitable across the population so that all women enjoy the best possible health – throughout their lives. That is why endometriosis is one of the key priorities in the Women’s Health Plan and will continue to be so.

Information about the progress to date against each of the priorities in the Women’s Health Plan can be found in the Women’s Health Plan Final Report.