By Tracey Villa

An action plan for services for women is to be implemented in Northern Ireland over the next few years.

The Women’s Health Action Plan will focus on areas which cover the whole life course, including fertility and pregnancy, post-natal healthcare, baby loss, menopause, and gynaecological services.

Lack of women’s health services have had criticism.  Megan Frazer, 26 from Derry described her experiences with gaining access to women’s health services.

“For the last three years I have been passed from pillar to post with my Gynaecological issues, to the point where the hospital is saying it is up to my GP and my GP is saying it’s up to the hospital.  I have not received adequate care, there is lack of communication and since I have other medical issues I felt I was easily passed off to different departments.”

Health Minister for Northern Ireland, Robin Swann stated at the Private Business Member Motion on Tuesday there will be a ‘Longer term comprehensive Health Strategy’ for Women.

“A Women’s Health Action Plan for Northern Ireland will, for the first time, bring all of that work together into a unified plan, to demonstrate what we are trying to achieve and highlight where greater attention will be needed.

“By putting women at the centre of discussions, we can ensure that their voices are heard and that limited funds are appropriately aligned with priorities,” the Minister added.

A local Pharmacist has seen an increase in women getting pain medication from the pharmacy for Women’s issues in place of their GP or the hospital.

“We have seen an increase in women accessing services.  We have introduced age 16 – 64 treatments for UTI infections and we can prescribe an antibiotic if it is positive, alongside contraception services,” he said.

He thought the minister’s plan could only be a good thing. in regards to women over medicating for pain in desperation.

“Well that has always been a problem, so it has, people over medicating, we can make a referral to the GP for over the counter use if necessary, the plan can only be a good thing,” he said.

The Charity Derry Well Woman, provides independent care for women regarding cancer services.

For more information go to: www.health-ni.gov.uk