Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of when updated NICE guidelines for endometriosis will be published.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guideline on endometriosis, which will update its recommendations on diagnosing endometriosis and surgical management if fertility is a priority.
NICE expects to publish draft guidance on 31 October 2023. The recommendations will be subject to public consultation until 13 November 2023 with final guidance expected on 19 December 2023.
Asked by: Mochan, Carol (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to decrease the time that it takes for women to obtain an endometriosis diagnosis.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
We know that diagnosis time for endometriosis is not acceptable and needs to improve. We recognise the time to diagnosis is not itself an effective measurement of improved health and well-being outcomes for those living with endometriosis. It is vital that we improve care and support throughout the whole diagnosis process.
To do this we have taken a number of actions including:
Mentions:
1: Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle) conditions and menstrual problemsGuidance will be updated this year for gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis - Speech Link
Found: 2022) minutes Topics covered in meetin g by guest speakers • Dr Kirsty Munro on commitments on endometriosis
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for (a) treatment for and (b) diagnosis of (i) endometriosis, (ii) polycystic ovary syndrome and (iii) other women's health concerns; and what steps she is taking to help ensure young women seeking treatment for these conditions have their concerns taken seriously.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Women’s Health Strategy sets out the government’s plans for boosting the health and wellbeing of women and girls and ensuring they feel listened to and have their concerns taken seriously. We are investing £25 million in women’s health hubs which will play a key role in improving access to care. Menstrual problems assessment and treatment for conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are core services in women’s health hubs.
Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are playing an important part in tackling the backlogs of people waiting for diagnostic tests, which includes checks, tests and scans for patients on gynaecological pathways, including those with endometriosis and PCOS. As of December 2023, there are 140 CDCs operational which have delivered over six million additional tests since July 2021.
Additionally, gynaecology is one of six specialties being prioritised through surgical hubs for planned procedures. Surgical hubs focus on providing high-volume low-complexity surgery, such as hysteroscopies for women not suitable for outpatient clinic procedures and laparoscopies for suspected endometriosis. There are currently 94 surgical hubs operational across the National Health Service in England, with 45 of these conducting gynaecological procedures.
Written Evidence Oct. 19 2023
Inquiry: Women's reproductive healthFound: Introduction to Endometriosis Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating gynaecological disorder
Written Evidence Oct. 19 2023
Inquiry: Women's reproductive healthFound: Endometriosis – a missed disease Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects an
Written Evidence Oct. 19 2023
Inquiry: Women's reproductive healthFound: Funding allocation for a specialist endometriosis clinic in Nottingham.
Mentions:
1: Baroness Barran (Con - Life peer) the Office for National Statistics is also planning to investigate the impact of period problems and endometriosis - Speech Link