FSRH launches plan of implementation for FSRH Vision in Scotland at Stakeholder Seminar

Launched at seminar in Edinburgh with the presence of MSPs, the Minister for Public Health, clinicians and other stakeholders, the plan of implementation for FSRH’s vision for sexual and reproductive healthcare in Scotland provides a roadmap for how current and future challenges in SRH can be overcome.

FSRH’s 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”, has been developed by the Scottish Committee and 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.

The launch took place in Edinburgh last week at a stakeholder seminar organised by the Scottish Committee and FSRH aimed at providing a forum for open dialogue on barriers to SRH delivery in Scotland, in particular, pressures on primary care and specialist services, impacts on patients, service provision for socially excluded groups and the potential for further impacts on services as the heath service and the policy landscape change. 

Chair of FSRH Scottish Committee Dr Paulien McGough officially launches plan of implementation and stresses that access to services must be guaranteed, standards must be maintained, and leadership must be supported in order to thrive.

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, co-convener of the cross-party group on Sexual Health opened the event by making the case that there are still frontiers that must be pushed on reproductive rights. The MSP’s opening remarks were followed by a quick introduction by FSRH President Asha Kasliwal on the work of the Faculty and its vision for SRH care in the UK.

In turn, the Minister for Public Health, Aileen Campbell spoke about the importance of SRH as “it allows our population to pursue their career, family and life goals” and the need to ensure FSRH's work to implement its vision of high-quality SRH for all is part and parcel of the general improvement of healthcare in Scotland.

The Minister also argued that progress such as the regulatory change that allows women to take misoprostol at home “represents a good example by those working on the ground together with Government to make it happen”.

Minister for Public Health Aileen Campbell congratulates FSRH on 25th anniversary and reminds the audience that Stakeholder Seminar “comes at a time of significant focus on women’s health”. Plan on implementation part and parcel of improvement of healthcare in Scotland.

FSRH Scottish Committee members also spoke about their clinical work with socially excluded populations. Committee member Dr Alison Scott, Consultant Gynaecologist NHS Lothian, spoke about her pioneering clinic, first of its kind to open up a decade ago and provide comprehensive services to sex workers, combining SRH care with other services such as psychological counselling. Dr Scott drew links between social exclusion and violence, stating that the majority of socially excluded women experience some type of violence throughout their lives. The service now plans to expand to accommodate other socially excluded women and hopes to see the model rolled out across Scotland, something which can be supported by FSRH’s plan of implementation.

 “Better care, a better future: Implementing our Vision for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in Scotland” can be downloaded below.

You can also read more about the discussions held at this event in the seminar report available below.