DISABLED WOMEN’S ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES & DISABLED WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES

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Conference
2007 National Disabled Members' Conference
Date
5 July 2007
Decision
Carried as Amended

Conference notes with concern the number of health issues that affect disabled women, in light of closures, cuts and the implementation of new legislation.

Conference recognises that disabled LGBT women have further issues for example, around the recognition of their same sex partners as next-of-kin, sexual health issues being overlooked and sometimes homophobic attitudes in the health care they receive

Raising awareness of disabled women is extremely important, especially with the introduction of the Disability Equality Duty.

The significant proportion of women experiencing mental health associated problems such as post natal depression is currently increasing. It was highlighted under the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines stating that specific treatment should be prescribed and women are not receiving it.

Menopause poses many health related problems and from a disability perspective they are suffering at the hands of unsympathetic employers who are reluctant to make adjustments.

Midwifery services are constantly under threat with closures and reductions in midwifery jobs. Again, this has had a profound affect on our disabled women’s health and access to services.

We call upon the NDMC to work closely with the National Women’s Committee/National Executive Council and Service Groups Executives to raise awareness, gather evidence and lobby for improvements to Women’s services affecting disabled women.