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 help to reduce the average diagnosis time for endometriosis.

Tackling waiting lists is a key part of the Government’s Health Mission, and we are urgently looking into waiting times for gynaecological issues, including for endometriosis.

Funding has been confirmed to support the delivery of our commitment to an extra 40,000 National Health Service operations, scans, and appointments per week, a first step to delivering on the 18-week standard.

The Department is working with NHS England to support the establishment of at least one pilot women’s health hub in every integrated care system. This is a key step to reducing endometriosis diagnosis times, as they will include care for menstrual problems, including endometriosis.

The recently updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline on the diagnosis of endometriosis will also help women to receive a diagnosis more quickly.