Cross-party group annual report 2024

cross-party group on Women’s Health
29th january 2025

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 Ward, British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)


Other Members

Alison Scouller (Socialist health association cymru)

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)

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)

tina foster (tgp cymru)

vivienne rose (bpas)

Group Meetings since the last AGM

Meeting 1

Meeting Date

15th January 2024

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Sioned Williams MS

Ioan Bellin – Office of Delyth Jewell MS

Sarah Hatherly –Senedd Research

Amanda Davies – Swansea Bay UHB

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Alison Scouller – Socialist Health Association Cymru

Andrew McMullan – BPAS

Tessa Marshall – Breast Cancer Now

Kayleigh Williams – Community Pharmacy Wales

Helen Perry – NYAS

Pauline Brelsford – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Georgia Walby – Long Covid Wales

Jan Russell – WAMES

Louise Morgan – Long Covid Wales

Ruth William – Long Covid Wales

Dee Montague-Coast – FTWW

Rebecca Davies – Action for M.E

Julie Richards – Director, RCM

Debbie Schaffer – FTWW

Lucy Grieve – BPAS

 

Summary of issues discussed

·         Topic on Long Covid, CFS, ME and the effect on women

·         Presentations by Jan Russell from WAMES, Rebecca Davies from Action for ME, and Georgina Walby, Ruth William, and Louise Morgan from Long Covid Wales

·         Group discussion focussed on support needed for frontline workers that may suffer from one of these conditions, as well as the length of time taken to be diagnosed in many instances. Points were also raised about the work being done by the Welsh Government, as well as recent advances in the field of women’s health that may help us tackle the issues in the future.

·         Bronwen Davies asked if we had received a response from the Minister about abortion progress in Wales following the letter written in November. Lucy Grieve is to chase at report back.

 

Meeting 2

Meeting Date

21st February 2024

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Eluned Morgan MS

Sian Gwenllian MS

Sioned Williams MS

Helen Fychan MS

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Tessa Marshall – Breast Cancer Now

Viv Rose – BPAS

Alice Fairman – BPAS

Diana Dobryzynska – BPAS

Caroline Sherf – Cardiff and Vale UHB

Judith Cutter – Cardiff and Vale UHB

Sarah Thomas – NFWI

Hanna Andersen – WEP

Rachael Joseph – FTWW

Georgina Forbes – Aneurin Bevan UHB

Beth Hales – FTWW

Anna Cooper - FTWW

Amanda Davies – Swansea Bay UHB

Debbie Shaffer – FTWW

Alison Scouller – Socialist Health Association Cymru

Meena Upadhyaya – FTWW

Lucy Grieve – BPAS

Lisa Nicholls – FTWW

Carina Harigan – FTWW

Willow Holloway – Disability Wales

Dr Aimee Grant – Swansea University

Ceilidh Harris Al Amoodi – SANDS

Sarah Ford – FTWW

Rosie Walworth – RCOG

Dee Montague – FTWW

Sarah Griffith – Cardiff Metropolitan University

Rachel Hawks – Verity PCOS

Jade Heffron – Endometriosis UK

Sofia Gamiero – Cardiff University

Donna Davies – FTWW

Jane Dickson – Aneurin Bevan UHB

Jill Rundle – NWFI Wales Committee

Councillor Jasmin Chowdhury – PHW

Rhiannon John – FTWW

Julie Richards – FTWW

Helen Perry – NYAS

Sarah Anne Evans – FTWW

Louise Evans – FTWW

Jacky Boivin – Cardiff University

Judith Cutter - RCM

 

Summary of issues discussed

·         Development of the Women’s Health Plan for Wales

·         Remarks by Minister for Health and Social Care, Elenud Morgan MS

·         Open discussion formed the majority of the meeting and focused on the timeline for development of the plan and implementation, as well as the postcode lottery of abortion services across Wales. Questions were also raised around the discovery report and the importance of co-production with specialist organisations (such as endometriosis and breast cancer charities that work directly with those with lived experience)

·         Letter of response from the Welsh Government about abortion care targets was disseminated amongst CPG members and was noted by people in the meeting

 

Meeting 3

Meeting Date

18th July 2024

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Sioned Williams MS

Hannah Jarvis – Office of Laura Ann Jones MS

Jenny Shaw – FTWW

Elizabeth Bruen – Cardiff & Vale UHB

Eimar Mulholland – Hywel Dda UHB

Alison Scouller – Socialist Health Association Cymru

Lara Morris – FTWW

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Rachel Joseph – Cardiff University

Sarah Hill – UHW

Carly Crocker – Endometriosis Wales

Andrew McMullan – BPAS

Amy Dowzell – FTWW

Annie Roberts – FTWW

Debbie Shaffer – FTWW

Sarah Thomas – NFWI

Dee Montague-Coast – FTWW

Jo Campion – Endometriosis UK

Louise Evans – FTWW

Lydia Sold-Evans – FTWW

Toria Collins – FTWW

Katherine Gale – NHS Wales

Cath – WRN Wales

Helen Munro – NHS Wales

Chloe Middleton – FTWW

Catherine Wadmore – FTWW

Emily Manning – FTWW

Julie Richards – RCM

Helen Evans – FTWW

Lucy Ward – BPAS

 

Summary of issues discussed

·         Topic of endometriosis

·         Presentations by Debbie Shaffer from FTWW, Rachel Joseph from Cardiff University, and Dr Helen Munro from NHS Wales’

·         Discussion focused mainly on the diagnostic and treatment time in Wales and the lack of resources despite assurances from the government. A number of members shared stories of their own battles with endometriosis, and nurses also shared their own experience of working within the service. Cost of specialist services raised as a large contributing factor to delays in diagnosis. It was decided that the CPG would write to the government about endometriosis and the timeline for the implementation of endometriosis-specific nurses in health boards

·         Bronwen from Abortion Rights Cardiff wanted an update from the questions that were asked to the Minister at the February meeting about abortion targets and mid-trimester commissioning. It was agreed that a letter would be sent to the Minister before the next meeting regarding this and questions arising about endometriosis

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting 4

Meeting Date

28th November 2024

Attendees

Jenny Rathbone MS

Sioned Williams MS

Laura Anne Jones MS

Rebecca Steinfeld – BPAS

Haleema Khan – NHS Confederation Wales

Catherine Larkman – WRN Wales

Andrew McMullan – BPAS

Rachael Clarke – BPAS

Bronwen Davies – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Debbie Shaffer – FTWW

Libby Humphries – Cardiff University

Leanne Prigent – NHS Wales

Molly Fenton – LYP Campaign

Eileen Munson – Menopause Specialist

Rhiannon Fisher – FTWW

Alison Scouller – Socialist Health Association Cymru

Annie Roberts – Wales Online

Viv Rose – BPAS

Emily Manning – Endometriosis UK

Pauline Brelsford – Abortion Rights Cardiff

Louise Allen – NHS Wales

Sally Irving – NHS Wales

Dr Jane Dickson – NHS Wales AB UHB

Dr Amanda Davies – NHS Wales SB UHB

Bianca Armitage – RCM

 

Summary of issues discussed

·         Topic of contraception

·         Presentations by Dr Rebecca Steinfeld from BPAS, Louise Allen from the Welsh Government/Cardiff and Vale UHB, and a pre-recorded video from Professor Christopher Barratt

·         Discussion focused mainly on the increasing role of the pharmacy in the provision of contraception across Wales. Barriers such as finance and medicine licensing were also raised.

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

2024 Calendar Year

Chair: Jenny Rathbone MS

Secretary: Lucy Ward, British Pregnancy Advisory Service

 

DETAILS

COST

Expenses

Cost of refreshments and canapes for in-person meeting at the Senedd for February meeting

£297.90

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

 

£297.90