The Women’s Health Council
The Women's Health Council was established in 1997 (under statutory instrument No. 278 of 1997) to advise the Minister for Health and Children on all aspects of women's health. Its functions were as follows:
1. To advise the Minister for Health on all aspects of women's health, in particular on:
- a. the implementation of the recommendations on women's health contained in policy reports commissioned by the Minister for Health;
- b. measures to promote women's health
- c. action, based on research, required to plan and develop services to improve women's health
- d. methods of increasing co-ordination between public bodies at national and local level in the planning and provision of health services for women
- e. means of encouraging greater partnership between statutory and voluntary bodies in providing health services for women
- f. means by which the health services could assist the improvement of women's health in the developing world
2. To assist the development of national and regional policies and strategies designed to increase health gain and social gain for women by:
- a. undertaking research on the health needs of women in Ireland
- b. identifying and promoting good practice in the provision of health services for women
- c. providing information and advice based on research findings to those involved in the development and/or implementation of policies and services pertaining to the health and well being of women
- d. liaising with statutory, voluntary and professional bodies involved in the development and/or implementation of national and regional policies which have as their object health gain or social gain for women
3. To develop expertise on women's health within the health services.
4. To liaise with international bodies which have functions similar to the functions of the Council.
5. To advise other Ministers, at their request, on aspects of women's health which are within the functions of the Council.
The Council was dissolved with effect from 1 October 2009 under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
An archive of the Council's website is available at http://wayback.archive-it.org/1612/20090929192021/http://www.whc.ie/
Menopause
The Council published information and reports relating to womens' experience of Menopause which can be accessed here.
Publications
2009
- Women & Substance Misuse in Ireland: An Overview
- Women & Substance Misuse: Drug Misuse & Women’s Health in Ireland
- Women & Substance Misuse: Alcohol & Women’s Health in Ireland
- Infertility Treatments for Women: A Review of the Bio-medical Evidence
- Infertility and Its Treatments: A Review of Psycho-social Issues
- Translating Pain into Action: A Study of Gender-based Violence and Minority Ethnic Women in Ireland
- Gender-based Violence: a resource document for services and organisations working with and for minority ethnic women
- 14 principles of best practice for Service Delivery: An Interculturally Competent Approach to Meeting the Needs of Victims/Survivors of Gender-based Violence
- The Emergency Department Assessment of Women with Acute Coronary Syndrome
2008
- A Review of the Bio-medical Evidence on Breast, Ovarian and Cervical Cancer
- Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting - A Literature Review
- Gender and Health: Strategies for Implemention - Seminar Proceedings
2007
- Violence Against Women and Health
- Women, Debt & Health: a Joint report of The Women's Health Council and MABS
- Cardiovascular Disease In Women (Quality in Practice Committee)
- A Guide to Creating Gender-Sensitive Health Services - 2nd Edition
2006
- Women and Sexually Transmitted Infections: a Gendered Analysis
- Women and Cancer in Ireland: 1994-2001
2005
- Women's Mental Health: Promoting a Gendered Approach to Policy and Service Provision
- Integrating the Gender Perspective in Irish Health Policy: A Case Study
2004
- Early Life Influences: A Position Paper Of The Women's Health Council
- Early Life Influences: A Position Paper Of The Women's Health Council: Executive Summary
- An Evaluation Of The First Phase Of The Irish Cervical Screening Programme (ICSP) From The Woman's Perspective
- Women, Disadvantage And Cardiovascular Disease: Policy Implications - Conference Proceedings
2003
- Women, Disadvantage And Health
- Women And Cardiovascular Health
- Community Involvement For Women's Health: Mechanisms Within Primary Care Services
2002
- Promoting Women's Health - A Population Investment For Ireland's Future
- Perspectives On The Provision Of Counselling For Women In Ireland
