Lack of women's policy to be quizzed by deputies

Jersey's health minister will be quizzed by deputies about the lack of a specific women's strategy in a public hearing.

The scrutiny panel hearing is in response to a report by the Public Health which looked at the health and wellbeing of women and girls.

It found the majority of women and girls it consulted did not feel their health needs were met, with an increasing demand for mental health support for younger women.

The Health and Social Security Panel said it wanted to know what steps were being taken to ensure women's health needs were met.

Chairwoman Deputy Louise Doublet said: "Our health system belongs to us all and it must serve us all in the best way it can.

"However, evidence suggests that it historically has been more accommodating towards men's health needs."

She said the government's decision to "halt progress" on a women's health strategy had prompted debate.

"We know from global research that while women live longer than men, they spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill-health," she said.

The panel asked women and girls to let them know about their experiences and it also asked islanders to send in their questions for the minister by 23 April to [email protected].

The hearing will be in public at St Paul's Centre in St Helier between 12:00 and 14:00 BST on 30 April.

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