Women's health plan: second annual progress report - January 2024

Introduction

The Women's Health Plan was published in August 2021 and sets out how the Scottish Government intends to address inequalities in women’s health outcomes. Running over a three-year period from 2021 – 2024, its sixty-six actions focus on six priority areas which are i) menopause, ii) menstrual health, iii) endometriosis, iv) abortion and contraception, v) post-natal contraception and vi) heart health.

The Women’s Health Plan has brought change for Scotland. We now have a Women’s Health Leads Network; a specialist menopause service in every mainland health board and a ‘buddy’ support system in place for the Island health boards; we have a new women’s health platform on NHS Inform; there is a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy for NHSScotland; and a Women’s Health Champion.

The first Report on Progress provided a comprehensive update on the progress made since the publication of the Women’s Health Plan from August 2021 until January 2023.

The interim progress update published in August 2023 provided a further update on key highlights that had taken place in the subsequent months.

This second annual report continues to highlight the progress made to deliver the Women’s Health Plan across Scotland, and in particular the important role and accomplishments of stakeholders across the health sector and beyond who are working toward the Women’s Health Plan’s ambition that all women and girls enjoy the best possible health, throughout their lives.