Debate contribution: Women’s Health Strategy

Debate contribution by Ms Diane Forsythe on 16 March 2026.

MLA

Ms Diane Forsythe

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

16 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Women’s Health Strategy

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5449091

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Member for tabling the motion. I am pleased to welcome her back. I remember the lack of a women's health strategy being raised two years ago in the Chamber. It is really disappointing to be here saying and hearing a lot of the same things today. It is the women in Northern Ireland who are being failed. Throughout our lives, women experience many physical changes and challenges, from periods and infertility to childbirth, menopause and everything in between. The very least that women deserve is to be able to access appropriate, timely and compassionate healthcare when they need it the most. The DUP has consistently called for greater support for endometriosis care, menopause care and perinatal health services. There really is such a need for women and girls in Northern Ireland to have better, more accurate and more timely information to support them with their needs and as they face those challenges.

Thank you. I thank the Member for her intervention. I absolutely agree. All these issues are so personal to women and so serious. They all need to be taken into account, and there is no better place to do that than in a health strategy for women and in action plans. Some of the long waits that women here face worsen their health situations, meaning that women take more time off work or school and struggle with caring responsibilities. Often, they go on to need more serious and invasive medical interventions. The sooner that conditions are treated, the sooner women can get on with their lives. I will speak to some specific concerns that affect women. Other Members mentioned the cervical cancer scandal. The ongoing devastation and plummet in public confidence has been truly shameful, and it is unresolved, with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust offering some apologies but no overall accountability. Those women deserve better. I also take the opportunity to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Linda Dillon mentioned Stephen McCormick. He is a friend and former colleague of mine, who has done so much work in memory of his wife, Julie. Target Ovarian Cancer reports that 40% of women mistakenly believe that their cervical screening will detect ovarian cancer. It is so important to highlight that those tests do not detect ovarian cancer and that women need to understand the symptoms and be very aware of when they need to come forward. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is this month — March — and the Public Health Agency is reminding people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Those may include persistent pelvic or abdominal pain, increased abdominal size or persistent bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary symptoms, changes in bowel habits, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss and bleeding after menopause. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are frequent, happening more than 12 times a month, and persistent and new, meaning that they are not normal for you and may have started in the past year. The advice is that, if you experience any of those symptoms, please contact your GP. Finding ovarian cancer early improves the chances of successful treatment. I will also mention, as the advice from the Public Health Agency is to contact your GP, that huge challenges still remain in Northern Ireland in accessing GP services. The additional pressures that this puts on everyone in Northern Ireland are extreme, especially for women who, quite often, put off their smaller health concerns while busying about looking after others and carrying out caring responsibilities and childcare commitments. The key advice is for women who are concerned to present to their GP with their symptoms, but if they cannot access those appointments, that is very concerning. In closing, we need to see action on women's health issues. Members across the House have highlighted many concerns today, and while it is disappointing that the Minister is not here today to respond, I hope that we will hear back from him on these issues. We have heard plenty of warm words. The Minister must ensure that women across Northern Ireland receive the care and respect that they deserve. They have waited long enough.

695 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.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification