Alliance Calls For Work To Resume On Women's Health Strategy

The Alliance Party has called for urgent work to resume on the development of a new women's health strategy to address health inequalities.

North Belfast MLA, Nuala McAllister, made the call ahead of an Assembly motion being brought by Alliance today (Tuesday), calling for a fully-budgeted women's health strategy to be introduced by the Health Minister, addressing every aspect of a woman's life from birth.

"It is an unfortunate reality women often face additional barriers to accessing proper healthcare, with concerns too frequently dismissed or incorrectly attributed to mental health or menstruation," said Ms McAllister. "Evidence shows a lack of research into conditions specifically affecting women can lead to poor health advice, misdiagnosis, delayed or ineffective treatment and overall worse outcomes. If we are to tackle this, we must take a holistic approach with a women's health strategy, encompassing all aspects of healthcare.

"It must begin with proper health education, to ensure everyone, not just women, are equipped with the facts around the health challenges specifically impacting women throughout their lives. Many organisations in the sector have been calling for years for more bespoke services. While we have listened to them, now we need the leadership to follow.

"I was glad to see the Health Minister last week reference the need for a women's health action plan. This is a piece of work long overdue, with work beginning in the Department in the last mandate but being delayed due to the pandemic and Assembly collapse.

"It is crucial that work resumes as soon as possible – no more pauses – if we are to tackle the health inequalities facing women and give local women confidence their health is a priority for this new Executive."