FSRH statement: FSRH welcomes appointment of Chair of Scotland Committee as Medical Advisor to the Scottish Government on Women's Health

Dr Alison Scott, Chair of FSRH’s Scotland Committee, has recently been appointed as Medical Advisor to the Scottish Government on Women's Health. Working on the implementation of the Women's Health Plan as announced in the Programme for Government in September 2019, Dr Scott is tasked specifically with enhancing access to contraception, abortion and pre-conceptual care for all women, as well as improving awareness of heart disease in women for professionals and the public through education and joint working with cardiologists.

Dr Alison Scott, Chair of the Scotland Committee of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), said:

“I am delighted with the appointment and the potential it gives to further promote quality, accessible and inclusive sexual and reproductive healthcare, along with recognition of the intersectionality of women’s health across all medical specialities and provision.

“I am committed to ensuring that women who are at high risk of poor health outcomes and who do not currently have a loud voice - for example, women who are homeless, those with substance use issues, those living with HIV, those who have been involved with criminal justice or prostitution - have increased access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and receive sensitive and holistic care when they do. Women affected by any of these issues are at twelve times higher risk of death or illness compared to other women, and it is critical that we address their needs as a matter of urgency.

“Clinicians working in obstetrics, gynaecology and sexual and reproductive healthcare are uniquely privileged in seeing women throughout their reproductive and post-reproductive lives, thereby having scope to help identify risks as well as educate and signpost or refer to other services”.

ENDS

 For further information and press queries please contact Camila Azevedo, External Affairs Manager, at externalaffairsmanager@fsrh.org / 02037945309

Notes to editors

• Dr Scott’s new role is part-time and will continue alongside her other responsibilities in NHS Lothian’s sexual health services, where she leads on inclusive care for women and heads up the WISHES (Women's Inclusive Sexual Health Extended Service) clinic in partnership with SACRO’s Another Way Service – read more here.
• The FSRH Scotland Committee is composed of SRH clinicians who work in the frontlines of service delivery in Scotland. It aims to promote the specialty of SRH, providing clinical leadership across territorial Health Boards, contributing to local regional and national policy development and implementation as well as sharing good practice and challenges between members and practitioners in SRH. 
• The FSRH Scotland Committee has developed a plan of implementation for FSRH’s vision for sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) in Scotland, “Better care, a better future: Implementing our Vision for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in Scotland”. It highlights practical solutions in seven areas that can help those involved in service planning and delivery to guarantee that standards of care are upheld across the nation and that women and men living in Scotland access high-quality SRH consistently. You can download it here.
• The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.