Chamber and committees

I get a little bit concerned when we talk about women in deprived areas being less knowledgeable. In my experience as an MSP who represents some areas that are very economically deprived, the issue is not women’s lack of knowledge or confidence. It is simply more challenging for someone to interact with a system if they are an employee rather than self-employed or if they are in a low-income job, or—as you said, Professor Glasier—if they have children to look after and different demands on their time. I just want to reflect—as you did in your answer, to be fair—that it would be quite a dangerous and lazy assumption for us to make in talking about women’s health.

What about the standard provision of menopause support for women?

May I share some reflections from my constituents?

Some inequalities and challenges are not so much about individual women’s knowledge of what is happening, but about access to support and, in particular, to HRT. In answer to Sandesh Gulhane’s question about inequality, you said that the issue is not all about process.

Forgive me—I hate it when politicians do this, but I will give an example from my own experience. Last year, I had to make 25 phone calls before I got in to see my GP, then get a repeat prescription and go to every single pharmacy not only in the town where I live but in my area.

I am lucky that I can do all that because I manage my own diary. However, I can imagine how things are for someone who has a job where they are working from nine to five or have only an hour for lunch. Some of the challenge is therefore not about women’s knowledge but about supply and having access to professionals. Have you reached out to women to find out exactly what the issues are from their perspective, rather than from the perspective of health professionals and outcomes?

Are some health boards set up so that the route is not through GPs but through specific clinics for women? Is the situation the same across Scotland?

You said that the measure of success would be fewer women being referred to specialist menopause services. Would there be value in measuring women’s own experiences? The fact that someone is referred to a specialist does not necessarily mean that they will have a good outcome.

I have a brief supplementary question, convener. Dr Reid, I acknowledge everything that you have said about the importance of prevention. Professor Britton mentioned population reach and the lack of stigma around adults—although I know that we are specifically talking about children—being able to go in and buy vapes. Does that not perhaps tell us more about how we should approach smoking cessation and health services for adults? That is not really a pro-vaping point, is it? It is perhaps for us to reflect on in the context of how we provide assistance to citizens to make choices that are healthier for them.

I have no interests to declare, convener.

Good morning, panel. Thanks for being with us.

I want to start off with your reflections on curriculum for excellence. Which parts of it have been a success? Would you have changed anything about it?