Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the APPG on Endometriosis Inquiry Report 2020, entitled Endometriosis in the UK: time for change, which found that 54 per cent of women did not feel they were able to get an appointment with a gynaecologist if they needed to, what steps he is taking to help ensure that there is adequate funding to enable access to a consultation with a gynaecologist.
The Government has received the Inquiry Report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis. The report raises a number of important issues concerning the treatment and diagnosis of endometriosis, which will be carefully considered as part of our ongoing work in women’s health.
The Department has made available £2 billion, this year, through the Elective Recovery Fund which systems across England can draw upon to help recover elective services which includes gynaecology services. In addition to this, a commitment of £8 billion has been made to reduce waiting lists and transform elective services across 2022-2025. Together this additional funding could support the National Health Service to deliver the equivalent of nine million extra checks, scans and procedures.