The problem of women being excluded from the cervical screening programme was first reported to the Parliament in June 2021. The minister at the time, Maree Todd, told the chamber that the cases of 1,500 women who had had partial hysterectomies since 1997 were being reviewed. When asked about women who had had partial hysterectomies before 1997, the minister acknowledged that the adverse event management team was reviewing the issue with individual health boards, and she said that the Government would be looking to conclude that work by July and to inform the women affected by August—that was July and August 2021.

Why have women had to wait three years to be informed? Why was the delay not reported to the Parliament? Why have we found out the extent of the Government’s failure only because of the campaigning journalism of

The Sunday Post

? Is this an example of yet more secrecy from the Scottish National Party, or is it just that women’s health is simply not a priority for the Government?