Mentions:
1: Gareth Davies (Welsh Conservative Party - None) 10 years for a diagnosis. - Speech Link
2: Sarah Murphy (Welsh Labour - None) I really appreciate you pointing out endometriosis. - Speech Link
3: Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru - None) On average, it takes nine years and 11 months for women in Wales to receive an endometriosis diagnosis - Speech Link
4: Sarah Murphy (Welsh Labour - None) practitioners on endometriosis as a chronic condition. - Speech Link
5: Sarah Murphy (Welsh Labour - None) practitioners on endometriosis as a chronic condition. - Speech Link
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32156 by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024, what specific actions it is taking to meet the target of reducing waiting times for an endometriosis diagnosis to under 12 months by the end of the current parliamentary session, and whether it will provide examples of any NHS boards that have already seen significant reductions in diagnosis waiting times.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
Through the actions set out in our Women’s Health Plan we have taken steps to support both women and health professionals to learn more about endometriosis, the symptoms and treatment options, so that waiting times for diagnosis can improve.
Endometriosis has two stages of diagnosis, a working diagnosis at primary care level and a confirmed diagnosis via laparoscopy at secondary care. Not everyone with endometriosis will want to have a laparoscopy to confirm their diagnosis, particularly if their symptoms can be well managed.
We want people to achieve a working diagnosis as soon as possible to enable swift access to appropriate care and treatment. That is why the Endometriosis Care Pathway for NHS Scotland is clear and advises healthcare professionals to suspect endometriosis in women who present with one or more endometriosis-like symptom (including in young women aged 16 and under).
We know that excessively long waits for laparoscopy are not acceptable, and we apologise to all patients waiting too long. We are determined to drive improvements in this area and continue to work closely with NHS boards on a number of actions which will see patients treated as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour - Penrith and Solway)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to repeat the Reproductive Health Survey for England 2023; and whether he plans to take steps to record (a) the experiences of those with endometriosis and (b) diagnosis time for those with endometriosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises the importance of understanding the experiences of women living with endometriosis. In 2023, the Department commissioned the Women's Reproductive Health Survey to gather views on women’s experiences in all aspects of their reproductive health, including menstrual problems and endometriosis. A report on the initial findings has been published, and is available at the following link:
https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/reproductive-health-survey-england#research
The Department will update plans to conduct the survey again in due course. The Department also commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR has recently funded a qualitative study into patient and healthcare professionals' experiences of the management, diagnosis, and treatment of endometriosis. Further information is available at the following link:
https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR156216.
An ongoing Office for National Statistics study is investigating the impact of endometriosis on women's labour market outcomes. One component of this study is linking primary and secondary care data to better understand diagnosis times for endometriosis.
Mentions:
1: Minto, Jenni (SNP - Argyll and Bute) I thank Rachael Hamilton for her work, specifically in the Borders, on endometriosis diagnosis times. - Speech Link
2: White, Tess (Con - North East Scotland) UK regarding the distressingly long diagnosis time for endometriosis. - Speech Link
3: Gibson, Kenneth (SNP - Cunninghame North) improved access to specialist endometriosis centres and reducing diagnosis time, I believe that those - Speech Link
4: Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Lab - Glasgow) As is the case elsewhere, women in Glasgow still wait far too long for diagnosis of endometriosis or - Speech Link
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 women presenting symptoms of endometriosis receive sufficient care during early stages of diagnosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis. Several measures are in place to raise awareness of endometriosis among clinicians and support diagnosis and care.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. In November 2024, NICE published updated recommendations on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of endometriosis. These are available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
Endometriosis is included in the core curriculum for general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The General Medical Council is introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment for most incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from academic year 2024/25 and onwards. Within this assessment are several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of endometriosis among doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.
Never again will women’s health be neglected. We will prioritise women’s health as we reform the NHS and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions.
Mentions:
1: Richard Tice (RUK - Boston and Skegness) They are given a diagnosis of endometriosis and prescribed some painkillers. - Speech Link
2: Richard Tice (RUK - Boston and Skegness) It must be easier for a GP to make the correct diagnosis when seeing someone face to face. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Sarah Owen (Lab - Luton North) Women have been left undiagnosed for debilitating conditions such as endometriosis for an average of - Speech Link
2: Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) , and, to be fair, of many women in the previous Government, have made sure that issues around endometriosis - Speech Link
3: Danny Chambers (LD - Winchester) for endometriosis, let alone any treatment, having been told for years that the symptoms are completely - Speech Link
4: Rachel Taylor (Lab - North Warwickshire and Bedworth) Women are waiting more than eight years for endometriosis diagnoses. - Speech Link
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the training of healthcare employees in recognising symptoms of endometriosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. In November 2024, NICE published updated recommendations on the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis. This can be accessed through the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
Endometriosis is included in the core curriculum for general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The General Medical Council has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment for most incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from academic year 2024/25 and onwards. Within this assessment are several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of endometriosis among doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support women diagnosed with endometriosis in (a) Liverpool and (b) England.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving care for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.
Women in Liverpool experiencing symptoms of endometriosis should see their general practitioner (GP) for an initial consultation. GPs across Liverpool can refer women to the endometriosis pathway. Liverpool women’s health hubs also provide care for menstrual problems such as heavy bleeding, which can be a symptom of endometriosis.
NHS Liverpool is also contributing to the North East and West of England endometriosis transformation programme. This programme is addressing long waits for patients with severe endometriosis and improving patient pathways, from presentation in general practice through to management in secondary care.
In England, we have taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. For gynaecology, the Plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, and piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres. Women’s health hubs also have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists.
Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published an update to the guideline on endometriosis diagnosis and management in November 2024. This makes firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected endometriosis, which will help women receive a diagnosis and treatment more quickly. The guideline is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
Jul. 03 2024
Source Page: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosisFound: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosis