North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for a Welsh Government Statement in relation to ‘the role of local authorities in supporting women with multiple needs’, after this was raised with him by the North Wales Women’s Centre.
Raising the matter in this week’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said:
“This follows a report of that name, entitled ‘Leading Change’, sent to me by the North Wales Women’s Centre last week. They say that, although it’s from an England perspective, it has much useful information applicable to our aims and joint working and commissioning here in Wales.
“It identifies that half to two thirds of women prisoners have depression, almost half have attempted suicide, and it calls on local authorities to review their joint strategic needs assessments, joint health and well-being strategies and suicide prevention strategies, to ensure the needs of women are met accordingly.
“It also called on local authorities to ensure that women with multiple needs are involved as equal partners in developing new and improved responses, working with women to design and deliver services that meet their needs.”
In her response, the Leader of the House, Jane Hutt AM, said she was grateful to Mr Isherwood for raising “an important issue “ on behalf of women in North Wales, where they can assist the Welsh Government “in terms of not only responding, but also devising appropriate policy.”