§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to focus medical and public attention on women's health problems; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieI am pleased to report that plans for the Department to host a one-day conference on women's health on 22 June this year are now well advanced. The conference will be opened by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and will be attended by an invited audience composed mainly of members of voluntary organisations and media dealing with women's health.
Hon. and noble Members of both Houses who are known to have an interest in health matters have also been invited. Applications for tickets have been very high and reflect the level of interest in women's health.
The subjects to be discussed are of considerable interest to women in this country today and cover a wide range of killer diseases and conditions which cause considerable suffering amongst women. The main subjects will be cancers, mental illness, the menopause and osteoporosis. The conference will provide an opportunity for those involved in promoting women's health to meet and hear from eminent speakers. It will also profide a forum for dispelling some of the myths and correcting some of the misunderstandings about women's health.
The media have been invited to attend, so that messages from the conference will be disseminated to women, and those interested in women's health, throughout the country.