Scotland's New Women's Health Plan Tackles the Gaps Nobody's Talking About—From Periods to Aging

Scotland's ambitious new Women's Health Plan Phase Two (2026-2029) addresses critical healthcare gaps that have left millions of women underserved, from 12-year-old girls experiencing their first periods to women in their 90s facing complex health challenges. The comprehensive plan reveals startling statistics about women's health inequalities and introduces targeted interventions based on extensive community engagement.

What Are the Most Shocking Health Gaps for Scottish Women?

The data reveals profound disparities that extend far beyond reproductive health. In Scotland, 359,313 women are currently of menopausal age (between 45-54 years), yet gynaecology waiting lists have exploded by 193% since the pandemic began in February 2020. This backlog affects the only single-sex medical specialty, creating a bottleneck for conditions like endometriosis, which affects approximately 10% of women and girls of reproductive age worldwide.

Perhaps most concerning are the statistics around disabled women's healthcare access. Disabled women make up 20% of women of reproductive age in the UK, yet their experiences remain largely invisible in healthcare planning. Women with learning disabilities face a devastating reality: their life expectancy is 23 years shorter than women in the general population.

How Does Age Impact Women's Health Risks in Scotland?

The plan highlights how women's health challenges compound with age. While Scottish women have a life expectancy of 80.8 years compared to 76.8 for men, they spend significantly more time in poor health. Hip fractures among people aged 50 and older have increased by just over 25% between 2017 and 2023, with more than twice as many women admitted to hospitals for hip fractures compared to men.

The workplace implications are substantial, as over a third (33.38%) of Scotland's female workforce is over 50. The economic impact extends beyond individual health costs:

• Absenteeism Costs: Economic losses due to gynaecological conditions reach nearly £11 billion annually
• Investment Returns: Every £1 invested in obstetrics and gynaecology services generates an estimated return of £11.31
• Economic Potential: An additional £1 per woman investment could generate £319 million in total gross value added

What Specific Actions Will Address These Healthcare Gaps?

The plan introduces concrete measures targeting previously overlooked populations. For young women, new educational resources will be developed for RSHP.scot, focusing on menstrual health and periods after girls and young women "consistently asked for more support and education to understand their health, particularly menstrual health" during community engagement sessions.

For older women, the plan emphasizes pelvic floor health, brain health, and bone health optimization. This focus addresses the reality that women are more likely than men to experience osteoporosis and dementia, requiring "specific support and information to manage their health and wellbeing in their later years."

The plan also tackles systemic discrimination in healthcare access. One focus group participant described being unable to access a smear test due to physical barriers, explaining the "lack of thought" about accessibility in appointments. This woman no longer attends women's health appointments because of the ableism she experienced.

NHS Boards will now maximize women's health "touchpoints" - such as smear tests - to promote preventative care and holistic health management. The plan recognizes that women face unique health risks throughout their lives, from managing periods and contraception to pregnancy planning, menopause symptoms, and chronic conditions like heart disease.

The comprehensive approach addresses the reality that women consistently experience a greater burden of mental health issues than men, with anxiety among young women more than double that of their male counterparts. Additionally, women are more likely to live with chronic pain and are less physically active than men, with almost two-thirds of adult women being overweight or obese.