Scotland's Women Face 'Avoidable Deaths' as Serious Health Woes Dismissed as Menopause

A shocking new report by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) reveals that women in Scotland are dying and suffering life-altering injuries because doctors are wrongly dismissing critical symptoms as merely signs of menopause. Personal stories, like that of former head teacher Jenny Glennie whose stroke was initially misdiagnosed as menopause symptoms, underscore a systemic failure to listen to and correctly diagnose women. This isn't just about menopause; the issue reflects deeper gendered health inequalities where women are 50% more likely than men to receive an initial misdiagnosis after a heart attack, and twice as likely to be misdiagnosed with heart failure, waiting an average of 20 weeks for a diagnosis compared to men's 3.6 weeks. Despite the Scottish Government launching Phase Two of its Women's Health Plan in January 2026, backed by millions in new funding to improve gynaecology and broader women's health, these recent findings highlight persistent, dangerous gaps in care. With CHSS pushing a new three-year plan to improve prevention, diagnosis, and support, and the Scottish Government committing to better data and research through its Women's Health Research Fund, the spotlight is firmly on healthcare professionals to overhaul their approach. The coming months will test whether these policies and public outcry can finally translate into tangible change, ensuring women's symptoms are taken seriously across the board, not just as 'women's issues'.