Swinney urged to revive women’s health minister job

More than 30 healthcare organisations have urged John Swinney to revive the women’s health minister post.

The First Minister appointed his top team last month after being re-elected following the Holyrood election, but scrapped the standalone minister focusing on women’s health, previously held by Jenni Minto.

The post’s responsibilities were transferred to junior health minister Maree Todd, prompting criticism.

On Tuesday, a coalition of 36 healthcare organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives, the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service wrote to the First Minister in the hopes he would revive the post.

“Historically, women’s mental and physical health has been overlooked and deprioritised, including for most of the period since devolution,” the letter said.

“The establishment of a dedicated ministerial portfolio in 2021, only five years ago, was an important turning point for women’s rights in Scotland and was recognition of the leadership needed to address these deep-rooted and long-standing inequalities.

“We therefore urge you to reinstate a dedicated minister for women’s health, which we believe would provide the leadership, accountability and visibility that women’s healthcare so desperately needs and deserves.”

Dr Sinead Cook, chairwoman of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Scotland Committee, said scrapping the position “sends the wrong message”.

“Dedicated ministerial leadership is essential to tackling unintended pregnancy, improving access to contraception and driving better health outcomes overall for women,” she said.

“Scotland has been leading the way on women’s health and it is frustrating that we may now fall behind other UK nations.”

Heidi Stewart, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said the move was “deeply concerning”.

“Every four days a Scottish woman has to travel to England for abortion care she is unable to get at home and last year a group of experts found that abortion law in Scotland is unfit for purpose.

“One in three Scottish women will have an abortion in their lifetime – these women deserve clear accountability for this essential healthcare and the urgent changes needed to improve accessibility.”

Catherine Murphy, executive director of Engender, said: “The health inequalities that women in Scotland face run deep and have solidified over decades.

“Historic underfunding has left major gaps in research and expertise, and widespread bias in healthcare delivery.

“This impacts women in profound ways, including being less likely to have their symptoms taken seriously by health professionals and waiting longer to be diagnosed.

“The notion that Government can spend a few years of focus on this and then move on without assessing the impact demonstrates a lack of understanding of how gender inequality works, and a cavalier attitude to a issue that is impacting 51% of the population daily.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Minister for public health Maree Todd has ministerial responsibility for women’s health, assuming responsibility from Jenni Minto who was previously public health and women’s health minister.

“Ms Todd is excited about taking forward the women’s health plan and delivering on this vital issue.”