by Lucy Ashton
A Scottish Labour government will give women’s health the attention it deserves, the party has said today.
Speaking ahead of the launch of Scottish Labour’s Women’s Manifesto, the party has pledged to end the “systematic failures” in women’s healthcare.
Scottish Labour aimed for the SNP’s record on women’s health, saying the SNP’s women’s health plan was “barely worth the paper it was written on” due to a lack of delivery.
Labour leaders in Scotland – Dumbarton candidate Jackie Baillie and Anas Sarwar.
Analysis by Scottish Labour has revealed that there are currently a staggering 5,431 ongoing waits of over a year for gynaecology treatment.
More than one in five women on waiting lists for inpatient gynaecology services have been waiting more than a year.
Scottish Labour has pledged to:
- Tackle long waits for gynaecological procedures, improving speed of access to colposcopies, laparoscopies and hysterectomies, and diagnosing endometriosis faster.
- Provide menopause clinics in every health board region, so women can access the support, advice and medical interventions they need.
- Deliver safe maternity services in every part of Scotland, with a national plan to drive improvements where services have fallen short and ensure women can access quality maternity care no matter where they live.
- Guarantee support for new families, training and recruiting the health visitors needed to provide home visits between pre-birth and a child turning five.
- Protect women’s reproductive rights, ensuring they can access the full range of reproductive services, no matter where they live.
- Recommit the NHS to delivering single sex wards based on biological sex, and ensuring patients can request same sex provision wherever possible.
Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said, “Women’s health continues to be under-researched and under-resourced on the SNP’s watch, and women too often face a battle to be taken seriously.
“The SNP talk the talk, but their plans aren’t worth the paper they are written on as long as promises aren’t being delivered.
“It’s time to end the SNP’s neglect and give women’s health the attention it deserves.
“Scottish Labour will fix the SNP’s mess and make sure the services women rely on are fit for purpose.
“We will protect reproductive rights, improve maternity care and provide menopause support in every part of Scotland.
“Only Scottish Labour can get rid of this failing SNP government and build an NHS that works for everyone.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said, “Too many women have been let down by systematic failures in our approach to women’s health and an SNP government lacking the ambition to fix them.
“With our entire NHS at breaking point under the SNP, women’s healthcare has been allowed to fall even deeper into crisis.
“A Scottish Labour government will fix the basics and build an NHS that works for every person in Scotland.”