International Women's Day: Listen as Derry MLA launches women’s health survey

On International Women’s Day, SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has launched a survey aimed at collecting women’s experiences of their access to healthcare and current service provision.

The survey asks a number of questions in relation to the factors impacting women’s health and adequate service provision.

Ms. McLaughlin said: “For too long, women’s healthcare needs have been ignored in our society, spoken about in whispers or not at all and women’s voices are too often not listened to when they are accessing care.

"Indeed, countless testimonies from women, not just in Derry but across the North, have demonstrated how our pain is often dismissed.

"While a Women’s Health Strategy already exists in England to deal with these issues, women in Northern Ireland are being left behind.

“I am aware that some action is underway by the Department of Health to better coordinate activity on women’s health. However, I believe that piecemeal development is no substitute for a Strategy that brings together the relevant policy leads to collaborate and find solutions.

"I fear that this approach will only result in inconsistent practice across our Trusts, leaving women open to suffering from a postcode lottery when it comes to their care.

"While I understand the significant pressures faced by the health service, the truth is that without a clear and strategic approach to this work, the challenges faced by women will be allowed to continue.

“We need an Assembly back up and running so we can bring these issues to a Minister’s desk and make the long-overdue progress that women deserve.

"In the meantime, we need to do everything possible to shine a light on these issues and I would encourage every woman to fill out this survey and make their voice heard.”

Click HERE to complete the survey.