- Conference
- 2025 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 9 October 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the health inequalities and disadvantages faced by women and is concerned that women are 51% of the population but are under-represented in medical research resulting in poorer outcomes for a range of health issues, not just reproductive health.
Conference notes that women usually live longer than men, but that they also live longer with illness and disability.
Conference notes that there are clear disparities in health outcomes and life expectancy between the most and least economically prosperous areas of Northern Ireland. Research has also clearly shown that women from ethnic minorities face additional barriers when accessing healthcare, with particular challenges presenting in maternity care.
Conference is concerned that reports have shown that the healthcare system does not keep women safe and does not listen to women. Conference is also concerned that women in some groups report not getting the same services as other women based on other characteristics such as ethnicity, sexuality, age and geographic location.
Conference believes that a Women’s Health Strategy would address the poor experiences and health outcomes that women endure. It would also lead to a better understanding of women’s health.
Conference believes that Northern Ireland needs a Women’s Health Strategy that will ensure that medical professionals listen to women and make sure women and girls can have improved health outcomes and improved health support for menstrual health, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, support after the baby is born, menopause, mental health and wellbeing, cancers, health issues to do with violence against women and girls and healthy ageing and long-term conditions.
Conference believes that this strategy must take an intersectional approach and must take account of the additional issues that women from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds face.
Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee, to support the UNISON Northern Ireland campaign to make a Women’s Health Strategy a priority in the coming year and to campaign for the resumption of the NI Executive work on a strategy soon as possible, so that women in Northern Ireland can have confidence that their health needs will be recognised, understood and treated, leading to improved health outcomes.