SNP accused of neglecting women´s health as Labour vows care 'fit...

SNP accused of neglecting women´s health as Labour vows care 'fit...
Source: Mail Online

Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of "neglecting" women's health.

The attack came as the party was set to launch its women's manifesto in Ayrshire on Monday.

Deputy Labour leader Dame Jackie Baillie pointed to more than 62,000 open waits for gynaecological treatment, 5,431 of which have been a wait of more than a year.

"Women's health continues to be under-researched and under-resourced on the SNP's watch, and women too often face a battle to be taken seriously," Dame Jackie said.
"The SNP talk the talk, but their plans aren't worth the paper they are written on as long as promises aren't being delivered.
"It's time to end the SNP's neglect and give women's health the attention it deserves."

Scottish Labour will fix the SNP's mess and make sure the services women rely on are fit for purpose

"Scottish Labour will fix the SNP's mess and make sure the services women rely on are fit for purpose.

"We will protect reproductive rights, improve maternity care and provide menopause support in every part of Scotland.

"Only Scottish Labour can get rid of this failing SNP Government and build an NHS that works for everyone."

Labour has pledged to tackle long waits for procedures, as well provide menopause clinics in every health board, "protect women's reproductive rights" and increase the number of health visitors.

Party leader Anas Sarwar added: "Too many women have been let down by systematic failures in our approach to women's health and an SNP Government lacking the ambition to fix them.

"With our entire NHS at breaking point under the SNP, women's healthcare has been allowed to fall even deeper into crisis."

Jenni Minto, the SNP candidate for Argyll and Bute, said: "The Scottish Labour Party's manifesto is clear they would cut £1 billion from our NHS - that would send our NHS, and progress in women's health, backwards.

"Women's health is a priority for the SNP and that's reflected in the fact we were the first country on these islands to introduce a Women's Health Plan with new action on gynaecology where we've seen longest waits for new outpatients fall by over 18%.

"A re-elected SNP Government will go even further - we will look at IVF provision with a focus on expanding access, we will initiate a national review of maternity services, along with provision of dedicates spaces within hospitals in the event of pregnancy complications and miscarriage."

Scottish Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine said there were "still mountains to move" to ensure women receive the right healthcare.

"Our manifesto is committing to a special focus on ending medical misogyny, so that women's symptoms are not dismissed, and so that we can ramp up training and research into conditions like endometriosis, the menopause, polycystic overly syndrome and many more," she said.

Scottish Tory candidate Annie Wells said: "The SNP have betrayed women by putting ideology ahead of patient care and yet they still refuse to follow the Supreme Court's ruling.

"The Scottish Conservatives are the only party who will protect the healthcare needs of women across the country.

"We would guarantee single-sex hospital wards, and ensure every woman has access to a female health practitioner.

"Under the SNP, women are paying the price for spiralling waiting times for serious health conditions like cancer and endometriosis.

"That's why we would launch a national awareness campaign on women's health, enact a women's health charter and improve access to areas such as fertility services."