Written question WQ86544
- Asked by
- Cefin CampbellPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
Will the Minister provide an update on what the Government is doing to improve the care available for endometriosis patients in Mid and West Wales?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Health boards have a responsibility to deliver high quality gynaecology services and it is vital they provide a robust and effective pathway, which includes early diagnosis, for the management of endometriosis in accordance with NICE guidance. Welsh Government officials have previously written to all health boards seeking assurance that services were being delivered in line with the NICE guidance on endometriosis and all health boards confirmed compliance.
Welsh Government, via the Women’s Health Implementation Group (WHIG), have funded dedicated Endometriosis Nurse resources in each Health Board across NHS Wales. The Endometriosis Nurses are actively spending time with patients in clinic and liaising with their multidisciplinary teams to improve the endometriosis service provision within their respective health boards.
In addition to the Endometriosis Nurses, WHIG has developed a dedicated website for patients and the Nurses to use; Endometriosis Cymru which includes ‘living with stories’ from Welsh people and a symptom tracker which has the potential to become a diagnosis tool for patients and clinicians to speed up intervention for early diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.