Debate contribution: Women's Health Strategy

Debate contribution by Ms Kellie Armstrong on 13 February 2024.

MLA

Ms Kellie Armstrong

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

13 February 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Women's Health Strategy

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4206261

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Congratulations on your role in the Chair, Mr Deputy Speaker. Today, we are talking about a women's health strategy. Minister, I know that a motion is a motion and that you do not have to act on it, but I hope that you listen. You said previously that a women's health strategy was within your thinking, which I welcome. Scotland has had its women's health plan since 2021, England has had its women's health strategy since summer 2022, and Wales has had its 'Foundations for a Women's Health Plan' report since November 2022, so I hope that we can take forward a women's health strategy. Any strategy needs to run in time for budgets, which could be a constraint that we will have on this. As others mentioned, it is important that we have a fully funded women's health strategy. In Northern Ireland, women deserve the same level of commitment from this Government as other women have had in other parts of the UK. My colleagues outlined different key actions that should be included in a women's health strategy, but, as an older woman in this place, I have experience of matters on which I hope that the Minister will listen to me and take seriously. I thank him for attending Órlaithí Flynn's menopause event, at which he wore the MenoVest. I only wish that he had it on now in order to feel how warm it is in the Chamber. It is one of the symptoms that some of us who have been through menopause have suffered.

Certainly.

Thank you. I absolutely agree. I will talk about how many women of my age choose to leave work because of symptoms. Menopause — including surgical menopause, which many people forget to mention — is life-changing and has an impact on many areas of a women's life, including her physical and mental health. There is an impact on her finances, and there is a proven negative impact on her employment and relationships. A funded women's health strategy must make provision for services that support menopausal women. That needs to include mandatory training for GPs, given that so many women have had to turn to private healthcare just to access treatment. GPs should be instructed to prescribe medicines that have been recommended by private practice. The strategy should include research into the broader benefits of testosterone for women, and resourced menopause clinics must be available in each trust area for every women. To be honest, however, I would prefer that there were a specialist in each GP practice so that all women could get access. I know that the health system is financially broke, but women are being broken because our health service is not meeting their needs. Many older women like me feel disrespected, ignored and demeaned by a health system that considers many of us to be an annoyance rather than key members of society. I can still imagine the eye-rolls when I phone up to get my HRT prescription. The Women and Equalities Committee in Westminster confirmed that women felt that there was:

"a lack of awareness or understanding of menopause, even amongst women".

Believe me, some of the most disappointing comments that I have heard about menopause have come from younger female health professionals and other women in the workplace. BUPA confirmed, as part of the Westminster inquiry, that almost one million women have left their jobs because of menopausal symptoms. Given that women have the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, that is the time when many people reach the peak of their careers. Therefore, by not having a specific menopause strategy delivered through Health, we are sidelining some of the most incredible and skilled people in our workforce at a time when Northern Ireland can least afford to have people not in work and lose such skilled personnel. Therefore, I back a call to have a women's health strategy that will, at long last, provide a plan to invest in resources, including training for health professionals. Lastly, I wish to address a matter that is very close to my heart, and that is miscarriage and fertility treatment. For many people in Northern Ireland, fertility is not simple or easy. I have never hidden the fact that I have been through miscarriages and IVF, and it was painful in so many ways. A key element of any women's health strategy has to be access to fertility specialists and support, as well as support for women following loss during and soon after pregnancy. Like menopause, fertility support is very limited in our health service. For many, health treatment is not free at the point of use. In Northern Ireland, we have a growing private fertility system on which families spend thousands of pounds to access treatment that is available elsewhere in the UK where NICE guidelines are delivered. If we are to provide a fair and equitable health service that will deliver for women, we have to consider why, here in Northern Ireland, it is acceptable for women to have to look to private healthcare providers as their only option for treatment. Minister, I will hold you to your word. I hope to see a women's health strategy in this mandate.

875 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 09:35 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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