Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “neglecting” women’s health, as the party prepares to launch its women’s manifesto in Ayrshire on Monday.
Labour’s Criticism
Deputy Labour leader Dame Jackie Baillie highlighted that more than 62,000 women are on open waits for gynaecological treatment, with 5,431 of those waiting over a year. “Women’s health continues to be under-researched and under-resourced on the SNP’s watch, and women too often face a battle to be taken seriously,” she said.
Dame Jackie added: “The SNP talk the talk, but their plans aren’t worth the paper they are written on as long as promises aren’t being delivered. It’s time to end the SNP’s neglect and give women’s health the attention it deserves.”
Labour’s Pledges
Scottish Labour has promised to tackle long waits for procedures, provide menopause clinics in every health board, protect women’s reproductive rights, and increase the number of health visitors. “We will fix the SNP’s mess and make sure the services women rely on are fit for purpose,” Dame Jackie stated.
Party leader Anas Sarwar said: “Too many women have been let down by systematic failures in our approach to women’s health and an SNP Government lacking the ambition to fix them. With our entire NHS at breaking point under the SNP, women’s healthcare has been allowed to fall even deeper into crisis.”
SNP Response
Jenni Minto, the SNP candidate for Argyll and Bute, countered: “The Scottish Labour Party’s manifesto is clear they would cut £1 billion from our NHS – that would send our NHS, and progress in women’s health, backwards.” She noted that the SNP introduced a Women’s Health Plan and reduced longest waits for new outpatients by over 18%. The SNP pledges to review IVF provision, initiate a national review of maternity services, and provide dedicated spaces in hospitals for pregnancy complications and miscarriage.
Other Parties’ Views
Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine acknowledged “still mountains to move” and committed to ending “medical misogyny” with a focus on training and research into conditions like endometriosis and menopause. Scottish Conservative candidate Annie Wells accused the SNP of “betraying women by putting ideology ahead of patient care” and promised single-sex hospital wards, a women’s health charter, and improved access to fertility services.
