Chamber and committees

So the menopause expert is a clinical individual to deal with complex cases.

Is the main element of progress having the clinical expert on menopause, then?

I am finding the session very focused on staff, which, in many ways, is understandable. However, I am particularly interested in patients. Pam Nicoll spoke about the gaps in services. Could you give some specific examples of gaps that you have identified and how those will be plugged? We would all be keen to see that the folk in rural communities whom we represent are afforded the same choices at the end of their lives, whether that is to end their life in a hospice or to be at home. Those two things will have unique challenges, depending on where in Scotland someone is based.

Good morning. I would like to ask about progress towards the priority areas of menopause, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome and heart health. Perhaps you can start with menopause.

I am an MSP for a constituency in Ayrshire. What difference does the menopause expert in NHS Ayrshire and Arran make to the women whom I represent who are going through the menopause? What has the expert done for them?

How will we know that that approach has worked and has improved women’s lives?

Do you want to say anything about progress on the other two areas: endometriosis and heart health?

Is that holistic way of looking at things uniquely missing from women’s health services or does it reflect how our health service operates in general?

Sorry—I will jump in there. It is difficult when you are appearing remotely—if you were here, I would be trying to catch your eye rather than interrupt you.

Can you speak to what that would look like for a patient? What difference do the improvements that you have made mean for patients?

I will ask about palliative care in rural areas. In the chamber last week, we debated inequality at end of life, so it will be fresh in members’ minds. The most recent evidence to the committee from Marie Curie, which was on the national care service, highlighted inequity in accessing palliative care in rural areas. What role could the national centre have in making sure that our citizens in rural and remote communities know what palliative care is and how to access it?