Asked by: Wells, Annie (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve waiting times for endometriosis diagnosis.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.
Through the Women’s Health Plan we are taking steps to support both women and health professionals to learn more about endometriosis, the symptoms and treatment options to improve the diagnostic process. Our Women’s Health Plan Final Report on progress provides further details of our work to date.
When developing the next phase of the Plan we will build on this progress and seek to ensure that all women receive a timely diagnosis for endometriosis together with access to the care and support that they need.
May. 21 2024
Source Page: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosisFound: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosis
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives are in place to provide targeted educational campaigns about endometriosis for boys and young men, in order to promote understanding and reduce stigma.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
We recognise the importance of ensuring that everyone understands what a normal period is. We have developed a range of resources that anyone can access to learn more about periods, period symptoms and conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and PMS. More information can be found in the Women’s Health Plan 2021 - 2024 Final Report.
Additionally, in March 2023 we delivered an engagement campaign in partnership with Young Scot to increase young people’s awareness of endometriosis. The campaign is aimed at those aged 11 to 25 in Scotland, including boys and young men. The campaign includes information about endometriosis symptoms, provides information about available support and provides information on how to support a friend in the process of diagnosis or who may have endometriosis.
Menstrual health and wellbeing education is a key part of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education. RSHP education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the Scottish curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence.
An online RSHP teaching resource, (www.rshp.scot) was published in 2019 and provides age and stage appropriate learning activities on RSHP education for use in all education settings and is aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. This resource includes learning activities on menstruation from second level (P5 to P7), with endometriosis introduced at third/fourth level (S1 to S3).
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to reduce endometriosis diagnosis times in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Patients have been let down for too long whilst they wait for the care they need. At the end of December 2024, the Referral to Treatment (RTT) gynaecology waiting list, which includes those waiting for endometriosis treatment, stood at 586,013 across England, with 55.4% of patient pathways waiting within 18 weeks.
As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for endometriosis treatment, wait no longer than 18 weeks from RTT by March 2029. We provided additional investment in the Autumn Budget that has enabled us to deliver an additional two million appointments as a First Step to achieving this, seven months ahead of schedule.
There are a range of efforts underway, nationally and in Slough and Berkshire, to reduce the time patients spend waiting for gynaecological care, as set out in the Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025.
For diagnostics, this includes innovative models that offer care closer to home and in the community, and piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres (CDC) for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. In Berkshire there are four CDCs delivering activity. We have committed to build up to five additional CDCs by March 2026.
We have also committed to increasing the relative funding available to support the gynaecology procedures with the largest waiting lists, including for certain endometriosis pathways, and reviewing support options from the independent sector.
NHS England is also improving pathways by rolling out a series of educational webinars for primary care staff, delivered jointly by the women’s health clinical lead and specialist consultants, to embed improved management. This will support better management in primary care and appropriate referrals to specialist consultants.
Mentions:
1: Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru - None) Endometriosis is a condition that affects roughly one in 10 women and occurs when the tissue inside the - Speech Link
2: Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru - None) Between 20 and 30 patients receive a gynaecological cancer diagnosis every month, but the health board - Speech Link
3: Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru - None) Before being elected to this place, I had never heard of endometriosis. - Speech Link
4: Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru - None) As you said, things such as endometriosis are so normalised within our lives. - Speech Link
Found: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosis
Jun. 18 2024
Source Page: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosisFound: Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - diagnosing endometriosis
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
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 improve (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) ongoing care for (i) endometriosis, (ii) polycystic ovary syndrome and (iii) other menstrual health conditions in (A) Redditch and (B) England; and what steps he is taking to align these efforts with the Women's Health Strategy for 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 the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions. We are considering how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. The NICE has published Women’s and reproductive health guidelines, which are available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/hub/indevelopment/gid-hub10001
In April 2024, the NICE published updated recommendations on the treatment of endometriosis when fertility is a priority. The NICE is also updating the guidance on the diagnosis of endometriosis, and is planning the development of a guideline on the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. The NICE has also published a guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding assessment and management. Women's health is also embedded into the Royal College of General Practitioners curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs).
Women’s health hubs also play a key role in improving care for gynaecological conditions. The Department has invested £25 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support the establishment of at least one pilot women’s health hub in every integrated care system. NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to report regularly on their progress implementing the funding. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB has reported to NHS England that it is using the funding to set up two pilot hubs, one within Herefordshire and one within Worcestershire. To date, the pathway redesign as part of the women’s health hubs has been priority for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with initial focus on menopause. Following implementation of a menopause pilot, focus will be on the remaining core services, specifically menstrual health.
Healthcare services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire offer advice, care, and treatment for menstrual conditions, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The integrated care system is focused on women’s health and hosts a monthly Gynaecology Forum which incorporates clinical and operational discussion on all elements of women’s health. The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust qualifies as a Specialist Endometriosis Centre, with clinics and operations offered in Kidderminster, Redditch, and Worcester. GP referral pathways, specialist endometriosis and pain clinics, and multi-disciplinary meetings provide diagnosis and treatment of all stages of endometriosis. The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust also employs a dedicated Endometriosis Specialist Nurse and hosts an Endometriosis Support Group for patients.
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-32158 by Jenni Minto on 23 December 2024, how it plans to evaluate the long-term impact of the menstrual health resource on increasing awareness and early diagnosis of endometriosis, and whether there is a plan for follow-up surveys or studies to assess whether engagement with the platform correlates with improved diagnosis rates or better health outcomes.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
NHS 24 use qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate, review and optimise NHS inform content. This includes, for example:
NHS 24 conduct regular audits and reviews to ensure accuracy, relevance and clarity of content.