Jenni Minto: I understand why some women have felt dismissed

“I am proud of the progress we have made in putting women's health firmly on the agenda,” says Jenni Minto.

It’s been three years since the MSP for Argyll and Bute became Scotland’s minister for public health and women’s health, and the period has not been without challenge.

Like other parts of the health system, waiting lists for women’s health services have been higher than anyone would like, with patients in queues stretching back weeks and months. Meanwhile, concerns over maternity care have been so widespread that a national investigation has been announced.

Ministers hope the second phase of their Women’s Health Plan can address some of this and create more confidence in a system that many feel has let them down. 

The scheme includes four priority programmes aimed at ensuring “timely access to gynaelogical care”, the elimination of cervical cancer, improved support and understanding of women’s brain health, and the use of innovation to provide “the best quality care” for women and girls. 

It is, says Minto, “another real step forward”, following the establishment of a women’s health lead in every NHS board, the inclusion of dedicated women’s health content on NHS Inform, and the recruitment of the country’s first Women’s Health Champion, Professor Anna Glasier.

The plan, Minto says, is to “transform health outcomes for future generations of women and girls”. “I am also proud of the collaborative approach we have taken,” she says, “working with clinicians, third sector organisations, and women themselves to shape this work. There is still much to do, but I believe we have laid strong foundations for lasting change.”

Informing it all, the Scottish Government says, will be improved data on women’s health, an area plagued by gaps in science. Figuring out just what is missing, Minto says, has only served to highlight “how much work is needed in this area”. “Women’s health has traditionally been under-researched. We have established a Women's Health Research Fund to transform the way we understand women's health. Phase two of the Women's Health Plan will focus on addressing gaps, improving data collection and analysis, ensuring we have the evidence needed to deliver better outcomes for women and girls,” she explains.

“Innovation is at the heart of transforming the healthcare women and girls receive,” Minto continues. “Innovation enables the NHS to redesign pathways, reduce variation and respond to demographic pressures with the potential for earlier diagnosis, more personalised care and better management of conditions that disproportionately affect women and girls. The Scottish Government CivTech programme is developing two digital tools to improve menopause care – an app helping women self-manage symptoms using NHS-approved guidance, and a digital therapeutic tool to reduce symptom impact. Both are being co-developed with NHS clinicians and will be tested before potential adoption by NHS Scotland.

“Our innovation programme works with partners in academia, charities and the NHS to transform healthcare for women and girls. This will be supported by NHS Innovation Hubs that develop, test, adopt and scale innovations across NHS Scotland.”

All of that has been welcomed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which has called on all UK governments to go further and faster on women’s health. Minto says that’s something she agrees with. “Scotland has led the way” with its dedicated strategy, she argues, saying her SNP administration recognises “the value of collaboration and shared learning”. 

Does that mean there is cross-border work on the go? “We engage with counterparts across the UK where there are opportunities to share best practice and learn from each other's approaches,” Minto says. “Our focus remains on delivering for women and girls in Scotland through phase two’s 40 new actions to help women and girls enjoy the best possible health – throughout their lives.”

And with all of that, it’s hoped that women’s confidence in the health service will improve. “I understand why some women have felt dismissed or not listened to by the health service, and that is simply not acceptable,” says Minto. “We are committed to improving women’s health and reducing long waiting times. That’s why we invested £13m in additional funding to health boards this year to target long waits for gynaecology.  Waits of more than a year are down 27 per cent for new outpatients and down 11.8 per cent for inpatient and day-case procedures between July and December 2025. 

“Throughout phase two of the Women's Health Plan, we have reflected the views of women across Scotland, demonstrating that women's voices are heard, that their concerns are taken seriously, and that we are taking action to address those concerns.

“We are committed to rebuilding trust and ensuring we have sustainable services that meet the needs of women and girls of all ages. Women and girls should feel confident that their health matters and that they will be treated with dignity.”