Health Minister to be publicly questioned on women's health and wellbeing services

Monday, 7 April 2025 13:04

A scrutiny panel will question Health Minister Tom Binet on women's health and wellbeing services, and islanders are also invited to attend and submit their questions and experiences.

The Government decided last year to scrap a specific women’s health strategy.

Tom Binet and the ministerial team will be asked whether women's needs are met and how they fit into the overall health strategy.

The Panel wants to know more about the current services available to women and girls, the funding of those services, any further ones that may be identified as necessary, and the progress on improvement plans and current reviews.

Islanders are encouraged to get involved with their experiences of women and girls' healthcare.

Emails with questions can be submitted to the Ministerial team at scrutiny@gov.je by 23 April.

St Paul's Centre, where islanders are invited to join to watch the scrutiny panel

Chair of the Panel, Deputy Louise Doublet, says the healthcare system historically has been more accommodating towards men’s health needs.

"Our health system belongs to us all, and it must serve us all in the best way it can.

"That’s not to say the department should be complacent in this area as improvements can always be made, but the Women’s Health and Wellbeing report suggests women and girls in Jersey face several barriers when it comes to their care.

"These include dismissive and misogynistic attitudes and limited access to specialists. This, along with the Government’s decision to halt progress on a women’s health strategy, has prompted plenty of social debate."

Members of the public are invited to attend the hearing on Wednesday, 30 April at St Paul’s Centre between at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, to see first-hand how the Scrutiny process works.