Work is progressing on a long-awaited women’s health strategy for Jersey after a workshop involving healthcare providers and service users was held this week to help shape its priorities.
Health and Care Jersey said the session on Tuesday 12 May was designed to identify key issues and actions for inclusion in the strategy, which is due to be published later this year.
A spokesperson said: “The purpose of the workshop was to gain an understanding of the priority areas and actions for a women’s health strategy.
“The strategy is a requirement of the Government Plan; it will be published later this year.”
It comes after plans for a stand-alone women’s health strategy in Jersey were scrapped despite strong public engagement with a consultation process.
In May 2024, Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell told the States Assembly that the strategy had been dropped because it was unfunded and there were “limited staff resources” available to develop it.
Instead, ministers said they would focus on specific areas already under way, including IVF funding, contraception services and abortion law reform.
The decision prompted criticism from politicians and campaigners, who argued that wider issues affecting women risked being overlooked.
The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel later lodged a successful amendment to the Government Budget calling for a dedicated women’s health strategy to be reinstated and delivered by the end of 2026.
