Debate contribution: Women’s Health Strategy

Debate contribution by Miss Órlaithí Flynn on 16 March 2026.

MLA

Miss Órlaithí Flynn

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

16 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Women’s Health Strategy

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5449055

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the proposer of the motion. As chair of the all-party group on women's health, I speak today about not only policy failure but the lived reality of women across our communities who are being failed by our health service every single day. Women here in the North continue to face profound inequalities in access to timely, safe and compassionate healthcare. The issues are not new; they are well documented, long-standing and deeply systemic. We know that women are waiting too long for gynae appointments, diagnostic tests and treatment. In many cases, those delays mean prolonged pain, deteriorating mental health and a loss of dignity. I highlight the devastating legacy of transvaginal mesh. Women who trusted the health service to improve their quality of life found themselves living with chronic pain, life-changing complications and, in many cases, a long battle simply to be believed. To date, not one of those women has received a single penny by way of redress. Many have yet to have those damaging devices removed, which are now stuck on their organs like chewing gum. Their experiences should have been a turning point: a moment when women's voices were finally placed at the centre of healthcare policy. However, many women feel that the lessons have not been fully learned. Conditions such as endometriosis continue to be under-diagnosed and under-treated. Women are routinely told that their pain is normal, that they simply must cope and that long waiting lists are inevitable. There is nothing inevitable about systemic neglect. Early diagnosis and intervention would save not only suffering but long-term costs to our health service. The inequality does not stop there: evidence shows that women are more likely than men to experience delayed diagnosis after a heart attack, less likely to receive timely, guideline-recommended treatment and more likely to die following a cardiac event.

It is not about biology alone; it is about gender bias in research and clinical pathways and how women's symptoms are understood. At the same time, inequality is felt in everyday life. Period poverty remains a reality for too many girls and women. The fact that women are still struggling to access basic sanitary products in 2026 is a stark reminder that health inequality is deeply connected to social and economic injustice. We must also recognise the growing crisis in addiction services for women. Women experiencing substance dependency often face additional stigma, barriers to treatment, childcare pressures and the fear of being judged, followed by potential involvement with social services. Gender-specific addiction support remains limited, despite the clear links between trauma, mental health and substance use. A truly equitable health system must provide equitable and accessible specialist services in which there is an understanding of the unique needs of our women. Mental health support for new and expectant mothers is another area where gaps remain. The need for a properly resourced mother-and-baby unit and specialist perinatal services is clear. Women experiencing severe postnatal mental health difficulties must be able to access care that allows them to remain with their babies, in a safe and supported therapeutic environment, rather than being separated from their newborn babies, as happens at the moment. That is essential for their recovery, for their bonding with their babies and for long-term family well-being. The absence of a fully resourced and comprehensive women's health strategy continues to result in inconsistent care across the life course. Women not only deserve but need services that are joined-up, preventative and accessible, at every stage of their lives. We can appreciate the undeniable pressures on our health service and the fact that services are stretched, but it is often women's health that is pushed to the margins. That cannot continue. Women should not be the only ones to carry the burden of systemic failure. We need urgent action, clear timelines for reform and genuine engagement with women who have lived experience of navigating the system. Most importantly, we need to have political leadership that recognises women's health as a core priority, not a secondary concern. The commitments outlined in the motion must translate into measurable progress, improved access to services and a real change to outcomes for women across the North, because, when women's health is neglected, the impact is felt in homes, schools and workplaces across every community that we represent. The women whom we represent deserve better, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they finally get it.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:13 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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