Women's Health Strategy
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2026.09.08
5.12 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Health and Social Services
regarding an update in the development of the Women's Health Strategy (OQ.66/2026).
Will the Minister please provide an update on the development of the Women's Health Strategy? Senator T.J.A. Binet (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
Could I ask the Deputy if she would be happy to let my Assistant Minister with responsibility for this area answer this question?
Connétable A. Howell of Trinity (Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services - rapporteur):
I thank the Deputy for her question. The development of the Women's Health Strategy is progressing in accordance with the commitment set out in the 2026 Government Budget. The strategy will be published by the end of the year. It will be informed by the findings of the Women's Health (Jersey) Strategic Needs Analysis published in 2024, including the voices of women and girls who participated in this J.S.N.A. (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) process and with further insight provided by healthcare professionals, women's groups and the service users who participated in the strategy engagement event held in May 2026.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
I thank the Assistant Minister for her answer. It is good to hear that the work is progressing. I would like to understand whether funding for this strategy will be put in place in this year's budget or whether that will be in next year's budget or some kind of interim arrangement.
The Connétable of Trinity :
The purpose of the strategy is to establish priorities and identify where improvements are required across women's health services. In most cases those improvements will be funded via existing budgets which may require changes to the way we deliver existing services, including perhaps reallocation of resources.
- Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South :
Does the Assistant Minister consider as part of the strategy-to-be the principle of believe and enquire women in the first instance?
The Connétable of Trinity :
Yes, we are engaging with women in all sectors.
- Deputy T.A. Coles :
I meant that in regard to medical practitioners as in to believe and enquire more further into women's health situations rather than having to come back later and being disbelieved and potentially gaslit by professionals in these instances.
The Connétable of Trinity :
I think some professionals are very good in this area but other professionals may need perhaps to have more education and that will form part of the strategy.
- Deputy L.V. Feltham of St. Helier Central :
I have had a number of conversations in the past with the Deputy about how we can see some better movement on the strategy. We spoke at the time, I suggested an action plan being developed so that we could track actions. Will the Deputy ...
The Bailiff :
Connétable or Assistant Minister.
Deputy L.V. Feltham :
Sorry, the Connétable . Apologies, Connétable ; I did speak to her when she was a Deputy on this. Will she commit to having an action plan that can be tracked and funded as well?
The Connétable of Trinity :
I thank the Deputy for her question. We have spoken at length over the last 2½ years and we have had an action plan for women. We have not been just sitting idly by. We have improved quite a few things already within women's health. We will continue to do that because that is my priority and I make a commitment to that.
- Deputy L.V. Feltham :
I cannot resist this one. Has a business case been put forward for funding for the women's health strategy in this Budget?
The Connétable of Trinity : Not as yet.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
The Assistant Minister said: "Not as yet." Does that mean she is planning to bid for any additional funding? Could she also address the issue of primary care, as in, the U.K. women's health hubs have been rolled out into all areas of England. We do have an excellent women's health hub in Jersey but it is of course only accessible to those who can afford to pay. Is that something that is being considered as part of this work?
The Connétable of Trinity :
We do have another very good women's health hub at Enid Quenault which is doing excellent work in fertility, assisted reproduction, in helping people who had lots of miscarriages. We are just setting up a new P.M.O.S. (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) Clinic, so we do have a health hub where patients can go at the moment to receive care.