AQW 14349/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 03/09/2024
Answered On Date: 17/09/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any consideration being given to the development of a comprehensive women’s health strategy for Northern Ireland.

Answer:

Due to the severe financial constraints facing my Department and the absence of a long term budget, I intend to focus during the remainder of this mandate on the actions that can be delivered within current resources to stabilise our Health and Social Care system and address the health inequalities that contribute to poor health outcomes.

There are a wide range of policy and service development initiatives in progress which aim to improve women's health services and outcomes. These will be highlighted in the women's health action plan which will outline my vision for what can be delivered during the current Assembly mandate.

My Department has provided funding of £10k to Derry Well Women, who in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, are undertaking a large-scale public listening exercise to ensure that women’s voices are heard and to help shape how services are delivered in the future. It is hoped that the first stage of this exercise – a women’s health survey – will be launched later in Autumn 2024. This, alongside the Women’s Health Action Plan will provide a focus and an evidence base for a long-term strategy, should the Executive decide to prioritise this in the future.