Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-32157

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to date in ensuring that all women have access to effective treatment and support for endometriosis, as outlined in its Women’s Health Plan.

Our ambition is for a Scotland where health outcomes are equitable across the population so that all women enjoy the best possible health – throughout their lives. That is why endometriosis is one of the key priorities in the Women’s Health Plan and will continue to be so.

Information about the progress to date against each of the priorities in the Women’s Health Plan can be found in the Women’s Health Plan Final Report.

Question reference: S6W-32174

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of women diagnosed with endometriosis are currently receiving multidisciplinary care, as recommended by best practice guidelines.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

This includes ensuring that women have access to care that adheres to the most up to date practice guidance. The endometriosis care pathway for NHS Scotland supports healthcare professionals to provide a holistic approach and timely care for those with endometriosis and endometriosis type symptoms.

However, data on the percentage of women diagnosed with endometriosis currently receiving multidisciplinary care is not available.

Question reference: S6W-32186

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in collaboration with the Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood resource to provide teachers with additional resources to educate pupils about endometriosis.

Question reference: S6W-32161

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of women with endometriosis currently have access to appropriate support and effective treatment, in light of the commitment in its Women’s Health Plan 2021-2024 to ensure such access by 2024.

Question reference: S6W-32159

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have accessed the menstrual health resource on the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform since its launch in 2022 to date, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-32156

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress towards the target set out in the Scottish National Party's 2021 manifesto to reduce the waiting time for an endometriosis diagnosis to under 12 months by the end of the current parliamentary session.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

That is why endometriosis is one of the key priorities in the Women’s Health Plan and will continue to be so.

Information about the progress to date against each of the priorities in the Women’s Health Plan can be found in the Women’s Health Plan Final Report.

Question reference: S6W-32178

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the reportedly significant detrimental economic impact of endometriosis on women, including in relation to employment and workplace support.

Within the Women’s Health Plan we committed to improve access for women to appropriate support, speedy diagnosis and best treatment for endometriosis across the public, private and third sector.

The NHSScotland Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy was launched on 31 October 2023 with supporting resources, including line managers, workplace adjustment guides, and signposting to more information on symptoms and conditions including endometriosis. These are intended for use more widely across a variety of employment sectors and are available on the National Wellbeing Hub, which is accessible to the public.

Self-employed women can access free and confidential advice and health support from Working Health Services Scotland which is a Scottish Government funded NHS service that provides advice for people who are self-employed or working in companies with 250 or less employees and have a health condition or injury which they feel is impacting on their work.

The health and wellbeing of women at work is a key element of fair work. We know that conditions such as endometriosis can limit women’s opportunities to do their job to the best of their ability, remain in work and progress in the same way men can.

As employment law is reserved, Scottish Government has no power to mandate employers across Scotland to provide specific support to women experiencing health conditions. Our role is to encourage employers to recognise and take action to reduce the barriers that some of their workers can face when entering, progressing and remaining in work. To that end, we promote fair work practices through mechanisms such as our Fair Work First approach to public funding and its accompanying Fair Work First Guidance which explicitly highlights to employers that offering quality flexible working arrangements is of particular benefit to women experiencing menstrual health issues or menopause while at work. Asking employers to offer flexible working from day one of employment has been a principle of Fair Work First since October 2021.

Question reference: S6W-32180

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that women with endometriosis are supported in the workplace, including protection from discrimination, implementation of reasonable adjustments and incorporation of menstrual health into workplace wellbeing initiatives.

Question reference: S6W-32183

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of endometriosis among employers in rural and remote areas, where access to workplace support may be limited.

Question reference: S6O-04160

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to those who wish to protect and preserve the Bernat Klein Studio in Selkirk.

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