Written Statement: Women’s Health Plan: A Year of Progress

This week, we mark the first anniversary of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan – a landmark document, which will change the way the NHS listens to and treats women and girls. Developed and written by the National Clinical Network for Women’s Health and shaped by the experience of nearly 4,000 women from across Wales, this is a living plan which will deliver real change over its 10-year lifespan.

To mark a year of progress and delivery, the First Minister and I today launched Women’s Health Research Wales. The centre will unite experts, NHS partners, industry, and communities across Wales to create a strong, collaborative network.

In the weeks to come, we will be launching pathfinder women’s health hubs in each health board area in Wales. The hubs, which have been developed over the last 12 months, will provide clear information and easier access to care for menopause, period problems, contraception, and pelvic pain. They will make it easier for women and girls to get care closer to home and at the right time, helping to reduce waiting times for those who need hospital treatment.

I am proud to report that within the first year, work to take forward a third of the Women’s Health Plan’s 64 actions is underway. This includes:

• A national framework has been developed with the Women’s Health Research Centre and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales to ensure women’s voices shape services.
• New school resources have been introduced to support conversations about menstrual health and wellbeing with young people and updates to the Bloody Brilliant campaign, including a free period product locator, are in the final stages of development and will be introduced shortly.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Clinical leads have been recruited in the Women’s Health Network to embed intersectionality within women’s health.
• NHS Wales women’s health pages are live and a new co-produced website will be launched in the Spring. It will empower women with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health.
• The first all-Wales women’s health stakeholder event focused on co-production, violence against women, and the new women’s health hubs.

As we move into the second year of the Women’s Health Plan, our priorities include:

• Expanding Women’s Health Hubs: The first pathfinder hubs will open in early 2026. Ensuring every health board has a clear implementation plan and can rollout integrated services is a priority.
• Research and innovation: A women’s health research event will be held early 2026 to drive collaboration and shape future research priorities.
• Strengthening Endometriosis Services: Work continues to improve the standard of care for women with endometriosis. A task and finish group has been set up, bringing together key clinicians from across Wales with specialist skills. This group will develop a service specification to establish nationally-commissioned specialist services for tertiary endometriosis care in Wales.
• Strengthening abortion services: The Women’s Health Network is working with stakeholders and clinical leads to develop a sustainable plan which ensures women can access safe and timely abortion care.
• Listening to Women’s Voices: Continuing engagement with women across Wales to ensure services reflect their needs and experiences.

Together, we are building a fairer, more responsive healthcare system for women and girls across Wales.