Cross-party group annual report 2023

cross-party group on Women’s Health
15th january 2024

Group Membership and Office Holders

Chair

Jenny Rathbone MS

 

Senedd Members

Sioned williams MS

Joyce watson mS

rhun ap iowerth mS

sarah murphy mS

delyth jewell mS

llyr gruffydd mS

John Griffiths mS

 

Secretariat

Lucy grieve, British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)


Other Members

Alison Scouller (Abortion Rights Cardiff)

Amanda davies (swansea bay uhb)

Andrew mcmullan (bpas)

Barbara STREET (ACTION FOR CHILDREN)

bECCI FROST (PMDD AWARENESS)

bRONWEN DAVIES (ABORTION RIGHTS CARDIFF)

bRONWEN JONES (AM STAFF)

CRAIG LAWTON (BMA WALES)

DEBBIE SHAFFER (FTWW)

DEE MONTAGUE-COAST (FTWW)

DR ALAN TREHARNE (HYWEL DDA UHB)

DR CAROLINE SHERF (CARDIFF AND VALE UHB)

DR HELEN BAYLISS (CWM TAF MORGANNWG UHB)

DR HELEN MUNRO (HYWEL DDA UHB)

DR JAN GARROD (nhs wALES)

DR JANE DICKSON (ANEURIN BEVAN UHB/FSRH)

DR RACHEL GILMORE (CWM TAF MORGANNWG UHB)

DR SALLY KIDSLEY (HYWEL DDA UHB)

DR SARAH PITTS (CARDIFF AND VALE UHB)

ELIZABETH EVANS (BETSI CADWALADR UHB)

ELIZABETH SMITH (ENDOMETRIOSIS UK)

FAYE FARTHING (ENDOMETRIOSIS UK)

hELEN PERRY (NYAS)

hILARY WATSON (wOMEN’S EQUALITY NETWORK WALES)

CLLR. IONA GORDON (CARDIFF COUNCIL)

jADE hEFFRON (ENDOMETRIOSIS UK)

jUDY THOmas (community pharmacy wales)

julie richards (royal college of midwives)

karen logan (aneurin bevan uhb)

lara morris (ftww)

lesley blower (abortion rights cardiff)

lisa humphrey (hywel dda uhb)

lisa nicholls (ftww)

lisa henry (public health wales)

lorraine jooman (royal college of nurses)

lowri jackson (royal college of physicians)

lucy dobbins (betsi cadwaladr uhb)

michelle moseley (royal college of nurses)

pauline brelsford (abortion rights cardiff)

rachael clarke (bpas)

Rhianyyd williams (tuc)

rosemary cutmore (bpas)

sarah hatherly (welsh senedd)

sarah thomas (national fostering network)

sharon vine (cwm taf morgannwg uhb)

sophie masson (think edi)

stacey keane (royal college of midwives)

tessa marshall (breast cancer now)

tina foster (tgp cymru)

vivienne rose (bpas)

Group Meetings since the last AGM

Meeting 1

Meeting Date

15th December 2022

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Sarah Hatherley – Senedd Cymru

Molly Boydon – BPAS

Viv Rose – BPAS

Sally Kidsley – Hywel Dda UHB

Amanda Davies – Swansea Bay UHB

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Lisa Nicholls – FTWW

Hanna Andersen – WEP

Bethan Edwards – Marie Curie

Katherine Gale – Royal College of Nurses

Angela Gorman – Life for African Mothers

Kayleigh Williams – Community Pharmacy Wales

Debbie Shaffer – FTWW

Helen Munro – Hywel Dda UHB)

Chloe Rees – AM Support Staff

Pauline Brelsford – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Dee Montague-Coast – FTWW

Sarah Thomas – National Federation of Women’s Institute

Jim Sweet – Bevan Commission Advocate

Athena Lamnisos – The Eve Appeal

Rebecca Smart - EPEV

 

Summary of issues discussed

Topic on gynae cancers

Presentation by Athena Lamnisos from The Eve Appeal, Campaigner Jim Sweet, and Bethan Edwards from Marie Curie

Molly Boydon from BPAS moving on as Secretariat, Lucy Grieve to take over in January 2023

 

Meeting 2

Meeting Date

23rd March 2023

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Joyce Watson MS

Sioned Williams MS

Lucy Grieve – BPAS

Rhys Hughes –Office of Rhun ap Iorwerth

Alison Scouller – Socialist Health Association Cymru

Dr Amy Marshall – FTWW

Andrew McMullan – BPAS

Debbie Shaffer – FTWW

Emma Williams-Tully – Campaigner

Gail Pettifor-Jones – Betsi Cadwaladr UHB

Dr Julie Cornish – Cardiff and Vale UHB

Pauline Brelsford – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Vivienne Rose - BPAS     

 

Summary of issues discussed

Topic of incontinence

Presentations by Dr Julie Cornish (Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Pelvic Health Lead for Cardiff and Vale UHB), Laura Price (Physiotherapist), and Dr Amy Marshall (FTWW volunteer)

Discussion focused on how to end the postcode lottery of service provision in Wales, as well as the importance of further training required for clinicians across the medical spectrum. Points were also raised about the need for greater awareness around the issue of incontinence amongst the public, male and female, given its high prevalence.

 

 

 

Meeting 3

Meeting Date

29th June 2023

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Joyce Watson MS

Lucien Wise – Office of Jenny Rathbone

Lucy Grieve – BPAS

Kate Mulley – SANDS UK

Julie Richards – RCM Wales

Andrew McMullan – BPAS

Lucy Dobbins – Betsi Cadwaladr UHB

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Debbie Shaffer – FTWW

Heather-Jayne Dangerfield – Endometriosis UK

Jade Heffron – Endometriosis UK

Kayleigh Williams – Community Pharmacy Wales

Kirsty Rees – City & County of Swansea Council

Rhianydd Williams – TUC

Stacey Keane - RCM

 

Summary of issues discussed

Topic of neonatal and maternal deaths to mark Awareness month

Presentations by Kate Mulley (SANDS UK), Julie Richards (RCM Wales), and Sarah Griffith, Lucy Dobbins, and Jan Garrod (BCUHB Snowdrop Team)

Discussion focused heavily on why stillbirth and neonatal death rates are higher in Wales than any other UK nation, as well as what we can do to strengthen and extend resources within our healthcare system. The group also discussed issues with geographical inequalities for accessing services, as well as support available for those providing specialist care like Team Snowdrop.

 

Meeting 4

Meeting Date

27th September 2023 jointly with Children’s CPG

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Jane Dodds MS

Sioned Williams MS

Imogen Martin – Office of Laura Ann Jones

Bryony Tweedale – Cwm Taf UHB

Dr Orion Burns – Association of Infant Mental Health

Julie Richards – RCM

Rhian Smith – TFN

Cherrie Bija – Faith in Families

Helen Perry – Project Unity

Tina Foster – TPG Cymru

Alison Scouller – Socialist Health Association

Heulwen Davies – Llais Cymru

Leah Hull – WRN

Mark Carter – Barnardos

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Abigail Rees – Barnardos

Kayleigh Williams – Community Pharmacy Wales

Sarah Thomas – NFWI Wales

Jayne Drummond – Home Start Wales

Hugh Russell – Children in Wales

Sean O’Neill – Children in Wales

Louise O’Neill – Children in Wales

 

Summary of issues discussed

Joint CPG with the Children’s CPG about the first 1,000 days

Presentations from Julie Richards (RCM), Bryany Tweedale (Midwife Consultant in Cwm Taf UHB), and Dr Orion Burns (Association of Infant Mental Health)

Discussion focused on the need for trauma informed services for all women presenting to maternity care and for all births, what can be done to eradicate suicide in perinatal settings, and the possibility of having a ‘baby bundle’ trialled in parts of Wales.

 

Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities with whom the group has met during the preceding year

The NGOs linked to the group are listed above as members and/or when they have attended our regular meetings. No special meetings were held with NGOs or lobbyists.

Annual Financial Statement for the Women’s Health Cross-Party Group

2023 Calendar Year

Chair: Jenny Rathbone MS

Secretary: Lucy Grieve, British Pregnancy Advisory Service

 

DETAILS

COST

Expenses

None

£0

Cost of all goods

No goods purchased

£0

Benefits received by the group of individual members from outside bodies

No benefits received.

£0

Any secretariat or other support

No support charged

£0

TOTAL COST

 

£0