Scotland's hidden crisis: Calls for 'radical' overhaul of women's healthcare

Women across Scotland have told STV News they’re being dismissed, misdiagnosed and left to suffer in silence – sometimes for years – before getting the care they need.

From heavy bleeding to crippling anxiety, many describe feeling ignored until they reach crisis point.

Now, with growing pressure for change, there are calls for a “radical” overhaul of women’s healthcare and for specialist-led services to be brought closer to home.

‘It was like a dark cloud’

Caroline, one of several women who spoke to STV News, described battling severe perimenopausal symptoms for more than a year before receiving a diagnosis and treatment.

It wasn’t until she started hormone replacement therapy that she began to feel like herself again, but only after months of debilitating mental health issues.

Caroline battled severe perimenopausal symptoms STV News

She said: “I’ve never had anything like that before…the feeling was horrible on a day-to-day basis… just trying to get through each day was nearly impossible.

“I didn’t want the words anxiety and depression associated with me, I didn’t want it on my medical records… it was like there was a dark cloud.

“I just kept saying… there’s something wrong with me, there’s something being missed here.”

‘If this existed all these years ago…’

Elizabeth, a nurse working on a busy ward, endured years of heavy, painful periods. During shifts, she was forced to change every hour just to manage the bleeding.

After finally being referred to a specialist, she opted for laser ablation – a procedure that’s been available since the 1980s.

“It’s completely changed my life… I no longer have heavy bleeding at all now”, she said. “But if this were available all these years ago, it would have saved so much time and hassle.

Elizabeth endured years of heavy, painful periods STV News

“There are loads of services out there that women are unaware of… I’d never heard of laser ablation.”

“It just became a way of life”

Lynn was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 48, after decades of pain and being prescribed painkillers without any further investigation.

“I went repeatedly to the doctor and said, ‘I’m in agony here.’ I was given painkillers, and then more painkillers, and then it just became a way of life,” she told STV News.

Now Lynn is determined to speak out – not just for herself, but for the next generation.

She said: “I’m frustrated and angry. It’s not okay to continue the way we are.

“I’ve got a young daughter and I’m really passionate about speaking out about these things, so that when it comes her time, the right pathways and access to healthcare are there for her.”

Scotland’s Women’s Health Champion, who was appointed to tackle long-standing inequalities, told STV News a more “radical” approach is needed.

Professor Anna Glasier said: “It’s quite clear gynae needs a total rethink.

“We need to ask how we can do gynae, as it’s currently done, better – but also, we need to be thinking about taking a lot of gynae out of the hospital and moving it into the community.

“It would be very nice if a woman with an issue could go straight to a gynaecologist, which is the vision I have.”

Consultant gynaecologist Dr Iain Martin echoed those concerns.

He said: “When you go to a GP – and I don’t mean it as a criticism of GPs – they may not have the full knowledge or expertise to guide you through all the options.

“(Community-based hubs) allow patients to access information from a specialist where they have a full range of treatment options.”

Over £8.8m pledged – but will it make a difference?

The Scottish Government has allocated more than £8.8m to tackle long waits in gynaecology – a figure the minister for Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, says is just the start.

However, frontline clinicians and patients remain sceptical.

Dr Rhona Cameron from McKeown Medical said: “Women are 51% of the population. One in ten women in this country has endometriosis – and the average diagnosis time is over eight years.

“We are failing women. Women are missing work, women are suffering symptoms that could be ameliorated with the right care, and women are absorbing the impact of those untreated conditions, or of a simple lack of access to care that we need.”

Jenni Minto, minister for women’s health, said: “I understand that it is upsetting and frustrating for women who face long waits in pain and discomfort for treatment and diagnosis.

“This government is focused on taking the action needed to cut waiting lists.

“We have allocated over £8.8m to health boards to target long waits for gynaecology and expect this to deliver significant improvements to the waiting list backlog in the coming year through waiting list initiatives and recruitment.

“I am pleased this funding has been made available, but I know more must be done. Timely access to gynaecology services must be addressed, and I am committed to ensuring that this is a priority for our Women’s Health Plan, moving forward.”