Cafodd yr ymateb hwn ei gyflwyno i ymgynghoriad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ar Flaenoriaethau’r Chweched Senedd

This response was submitted to the Health and Social Care Committee consultation on Sixth Senedd Priorities

HSC PSS 87
Ymateb gan: | Response from: Gwasanaeth Cynghori Beichiogrwydd Prydain | British Pregnancy Advisory Services
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Blaenoriaethau cychwynnol a nodwyd gan y Pwyllgor
Initial priorities identified by the Committee

Mae'r Pwyllgor wedi nodi nifer o flaenoriaethau posibl ar gyfer ei waith yn ystod y Chweched Senedd, gan gynnwys: iechyd y cyhoedd a gwaith ataliol; y gweithlu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys diwylliant sefydliadol a lles staff; mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl; arloesi ar sail tystiolaeth ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol; cymorth a gwasanaethau i ofalwyr di-dâl; mynediad at wasanaethau adsefydlu i’r rhai sydd wedi cael COVID ac i eraill; a mynediad at wasanaethau ar gyfer cyflyrau cronig tymor hir, gan gynnwys cyflyrau cyhyrysgerbydol.

The Committee has identified several potential priorities for work during the Sixth Senedd, including: public health and prevention; the health and social care workforce, including organisational culture and staff wellbeing; access to mental health services; evidence-based innovation in health and social care; support and services for unpaid carers; access to COVID and non-COVID rehabilitation services; and access to services for long-term chronic conditions, including musculoskeletal conditions.

Blaenoriaethau allweddol ar gyfer y Chweched Senedd
Key priorities for the Sixth Senedd

C2. Yn eich barn chi, pa flaenoriaethau allweddol eraill y dylai'r Pwyllgor eu hystyried yn ystod y Chweched Senedd mewn perthynas â:
a)        gwasanaethau iechyd;
b)        gofal cymdeithasol a gofalwyr;
c)         adfer yn dilyn COVID?

Q2. In your view, what other key priorities should the Committee consider during the Sixth Senedd in relation to:
a)        health services;
b)        social care and carers;
c)         COVID recovery?

Gwasanaethau iechyd
Health services

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service are working with the third sector coalition that has been formed to develop a Women and Girls' Health Quality Statement for Wales. The coalition comprises health-focused, condition-specific, and equality rights organisations and patient advocates from Wales and the UK, all of whom have come together with the aim of ensuring all aspects of women and girls' health are considered and prioritised accordingly.

There is currently no women and girls' Health Plan in Wales and, our understanding is, a plan is not yet on the agenda. Health conditions which solely affect women and those assigned female at birth, such as endometriosis, which costs the UK economy £8.2bn annually, and menopause which will affect 52% of the population at some point in time, as well as those disease areas which have a disproportionately negative impact on females, including auto-immune, cardiovascular, osteoporosis, and dementia, incur a significant cost burden to Wales. The ONS reports that women live fewer years in good health than men and are more likely to be in poverty, requiring both social and financial support. As such, we are calling on the Health and Social Care Committee to both prioritise and incentivise the effective management of women’s health during this Sixth Senedd.

Women's health-related priorities could include:

•           Supporting the development and implementation of a Women and Girls' Health Quality Statement and Plan for Wales

•           A life-course approach to women's health which includes but, crucially, extends beyond the traditional focus on maternity

•           Consistent high-quality service provision, including specialist tertiary care, accessible to residents the length and breadth of Wales

•           Investment in research

•           Investment in enhanced training for healthcare professionals in Wales 

•           A public health approach which focuses on education / awareness and prevention and early intervention in women's health

•           Encouraging the development of appropriate workplace policy and practice

•           Sustainable resourcing of specialist third sector organisations enabling a fully co-productive approach to women's health strategy and service design in Wales

•           Integration of the women's health implementation group (WHIG) and programme (WHIP) into long-term NHS Wales planning