Minister praises University’s contribution to women’s health at campus event

Scottish Government Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto marked Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 2025 with a visit to Glasgow Caledonian University today (Oct 7).

Ms Minto and MSP for Glasgow (Region) Pam Duncan-Glancy were special guests at the University’s Sporting a Healthy Pelvic Floor on-campus event, held as part of the awareness week to showcase our world-leading research.

The event was organised by Professor of Nursing Carol Bugge and Professor of Health Services Research Suzanne Hagen, both key researchers in the School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) Research Centre for Health (ReaCH).

Ms Minto praised the University’s researchers for their pelvic health work and their huge contribution to the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan (Phase 2) to be launched in January.

Ms Minto told the audience: “This week is about increasing people’s visibility to women in sport but also thinking about women’s health. It is essential that we can have interactive events such as this to understand and see the variety of information you can get with regards to your pelvic health and the work that is going on around it.

“Our ambition in the Scottish Government is that women and girls enjoy the best possible health throughout their lives and one of the areas we have been doing that is through the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan. It’s fantastic to see Pam Duncan-Glancy here today too because the Women’s Health Plan is a true cross-party piece of work.

“I also want to recognise what Glasgow Caledonian University has been doing around innovative research and I would like to thank Carol and Suzanne for sharing their expertise and contributing to the rich evidence base which will support the next phase of our Women’s Health Plan.”

SHLS staff and students set up a number of stalls to help the packed audience understand more about the importance of a healthy pelvic floor through exercise, prevention and research.

NHS Tayside specialist women’s health physiotherapist Carolyn Davie also explained to the audience how to do pelvic floor muscle exercises properly.

Other key staff attended the event including Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrea Nelson, Interim Associate Dean Research Dr David Hamilton and Head of Department of Nursing, Community and Public Health Dr Valerie Ness.

Professor Bugge said: “The purpose of the event was to share the innovative and sector-leading work that we do here at Glasgow Caledonian’s Research Centre for Health around pelvic floor health.

“We are delighted to be part of the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 2025 and it was fantastic to have Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto and Pam Duncan-Glancy supporting our event.”