Scottish Parliament – June 15, 2021 – 1

S6M-00369.1: As an amendment to motion S6M-00369 in the name of Maree Todd (Women’s Health), insert at end ";

notes that women face significant barriers to good mental and physical health, including unreasonably long waiting times for a diagnosis of conditions such as endometriosis, where the average waiting time is eight and a half years in Scotland;

believes that women from the most deprived areas of Scotland are less likely to attend breast screening appointments, and, with breast cancer referrals declining during the COVID-19 pandemic, calls on the Scottish Government to bring treatment times under control by having a separate, clinician-led fund to tackle the NHS backlog."

Original motion(S6M-00369): That the Parliament welcomes that the Scottish Government will publish a Women’s Health Plan within the first 100 days of the current parliamentary session;

notes that the plan will seek to improve support and services for the health and wellbeing needs of women and girls at every stage of their lives;

believes that it is vital that health and care services for menopause, endometriosis and heart healthcare need to substantially improve;

recognises that the causes of many healthcare issues facing women and girls are rooted in health and income inequalities, and that actions to address these are needed alongside the enhancement of services, and believes that, if a broad consensus on women’s health can be realised, Scotland has the opportunity to become a global leader in this field.