Women's Health Plan: Phase Two (2026 - 2029)

Foreword by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health

Women and girls make up 51.4% of Scotland’s population, and their health matters.

The first Women’s Health Plan, published in August 2021, set out our ambitious vision to improve health outcomes and health services for all women and girls in Scotland. As Minister for Women’s Health, I am proud of the positive progress that has been made in this first phase of the Plan. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Anna Glasier, Scotland’s first Women’s Champion, who has been pivotal in advancing change in women’s health. We know this is just the beginning of the journey, but Phase Two takes us further.

I am determined that our focus on the health of women and girls continues, and we build upon the strong foundation created through the first phase.

Phase One of the plan achieved real impetus to bringing the health of women and girls into the spotlight, and made tangible progress. But too many women continue to face avoidable health inequalities across the course of their lives. There remains a great deal more for us to do.

That’s why I am pleased to present Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan.

Informed by a rich evidence base and, vitally, the voices of women and girls, this next phase builds on the priorities set out in the Women’s Health Plan. The plan includes additional areas of focus where our partners, including women and girls, have told us change and improvement are needed most.

I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed to the development of Phase Two. Women and girls across Scotland have taken time from their busy lives to share their personal accounts and experiences. Our partners, including clinicians, third sector colleagues and academics, have shared their time, expertise and commitment over many months. I am grateful for their contribution to this important work.

Within Phase Two there are four new key priority programmes that are at the forefront of this work:

• Transforming gynaecology services to ensure women and girls have timely access to gynaecological care;
• Eliminating cervical cancer;
• Improving support and understanding of women’s brain health;
• Using innovation to ensure women and girls have access to the best quality care.

New actions are also included on optimising women’s future health through prevention and early intervention so women can live longer, healthier lives. This includes pelvic floor health, bone health and heart health.

A whole government approach is vital to ensure that the specific health needs of women and girls are met across all aspects of their lives because women’s health is everyone’s business. The Women’s Health Plan does not exist in isolation. Across the Scottish Government, policies in health and beyond, are driving positive change for women and girls, covering areas such as pregnancy and maternity services, screening, mental health, violence against women and girls, support for unpaid carers, fair work, and much more. As part of that positive change, we have established the Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce which will enhance the safety and quality of maternity and neonatal services in Scotland, focusing on improving outcomes and experiences for all women and babies.

Improving health outcomes for women and girls is not only about services but also about culture change. Women and girls should not feel that they have to fight to be heard or struggle to access timely and appropriate healthcare. Changing cultural and societal attitudes towards women’s health is vital. Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan reiterates this Government’s commitment to seeing that through.

System-wide renewal is essential, and this Plan aligns with wider work to improve access to treatment and services, shift care into communities, expand digital innovation and focus on prevention. These systematic changes will benefit women and help achieve our ambition: for women and girls to enjoy the best possible health throughout their lives.

When women and girls are supported to live healthy lives, everyone benefits. That’s why we must remain ambitious and committed to delivering real, lasting change for women and girls in every aspect of their lives, with health at the heart of all we do.

Jenni Minto, MSP Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health