Lipoedema: Health Services

(asked on 22nd January 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that efforts to improve access to diagnosis and treatment for lipoedema adequality align with the Government’s commitments under the Women’s Health Strategy.


Answered by
Karin Smyth Portrait
Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 28th January 2026

The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy will play a central role in improving outcomes for women living with long‑term conditions like lipoedema by addressing the systemic barriers that have historically contributed to delayed diagnosis, variability in care, and poorer health experiences.

The refreshed strategy places a strong emphasis on creating a healthcare system that listens to women, reduces diagnostic waiting times, and tackles entrenched inequalities, ensuring services are better aligned with women’s needs. By strengthening clinical awareness, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and embedding high‑quality, evidence‑based care across the system, the updated strategy, fully aligned with the 10‑Year Health Plan, will enhance support for women managing a wide range of long‑term conditions, including lipoedema.

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