9. Question No. 9—HealthSARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam) to the Associate Minister of HealthQuestion No. 9—Health9. SARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam) to the Associate Minister of Health: What has this Government done to improve women's healthcare and services so that they feel listened to and are enabled to live longer in good health with increased wellbeing and quality of life?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Associate Minister of Health): This Government is proud of the work we have undertaken for women and I am excited about the ongoing mahi. Last month we launched the first women's health strategy which sets the direction for improving the health and wellbeing of women over the next 10 years. Right now to achieve that overall vision our Government is acting to improve women's health. We know that breast cancer screening saves women's lives and we are working hard on improving access to our breast-screening programme so that all the women who are already eligible for free mammograms get one. We've brought in abortion safe areas which mean that people who wish to access abortion health services should be able to do so safely and without fear of harassment or intimidation. We've taken action on surgicalmesh harm and injuries during childbirth. We also have important work under way on integrating maternity and child services on maternal mental health and on cervical cancer screening.Sarah Pallett: How has the Government strengthened breast cancer screening services and worked to ensure we improve equity for all women?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: This Labour Government has made substantial efforts to improve the national breast cancer screening programme. We have invested in a new IT register because our current register in no longer fit for purpose to provide a modern breast cancer screening service and to support any future programme changes like extending the age range. However once implemented the new system will enhance and support women's participation in breast cancer screening with an opt-out screening model based on the population register. To get the staff we need for breast screening our health workforce plan and breast-screening Aotearoa workforce development strategy focuses on recruitment and retention of the medical imaging technologists and radiologists. We need to enable more women to be able to be screened. We are also working hard to make sure that all women who are currently eligible for a mammogram get one. That is why providers of the breast-screening Aotearoa programme are offering Saturday and after-hours screening clinics and visits and working with primary health organisations to identify overdue or unscreened women.Sarah Pallett: How has the Government demonstrated improvements in the health system when it comes to listening to women?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: In response to women's struggle for the treatment of birth injuries and for the restorative justice process on surgical mesh we have acted. Our work to address the harm that surgical mesh can cause has seen six surgeons credentialed to remove it educational materials for primary-care providers rolled out across the country and a specialist female pelvic mesh service established to support and care for women. To date this service has already received at least 109 referrals. Last week the Director-General of Health supported a pause on surgical mesh to treat stress urinary incontinence while we take further steps to minimise harm linked to the procedure. We are well under way to achieving the conditions to lift this pause including progress towards establishing a register and providing structured informed consent with a patientdecision aid. We've also listened to women who have experienced a birth injury. We amended legislation so that women with listed birth injuries can access more timely surgeries and pelvic physiotherapy. Data from ACC shows that women are accessing this important support with 4470 claims accepted between 1 October 2022 and 2 August 2023.Sarah Pallett: What further initiatives and investment will the Government be making in women's healthcare services?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: Through Kahu Taurima we have begun an ambitious transformation programme for all women and whānau welcoming and raising babies through to their fifth birthday. Already we've invested in 40 hauora Māori and five Pasifika providers so that they can implement wraparound services that put women and whānau at the centre of their maternity and early-years journey. We are also developing educational tools for health professionals to support pregnant people with disabilities to have a better-quality experience as they navigate the health system. And we are developing a national bereavement care pathway to make sure that all bereaved women and their whānau are provided with high-quality individualised safe and culturally responsive care across Aotearoa. Last but definitely not least in September we launched our brand new HPV screening programme. This Labour Government has invested in not only a new register but also an entire new screening system for cervical cancer. We are using the latest innovation in screening to provide a test that women and people with a cervix can do themselves.