Written question WQ99721
- Asked by
- Joshua KimReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What action is the Welsh Government taking to strengthen referral pathways and improve access to specialist endometriosis care, including reducing variation between health boards and ensuring that relevant NICE guidance and quality standards are consistently reflected in care pathways across Wales, regardless of postcode?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health (Delyth Jewell)
I have already provided an answer to this question under WQ99594 (answered in combination with WQ99596 and WQ99597), included below:
We recognise that diagnosis of endometriosis can take too long for too many women. We are committed to strengthening the NHS Wales Women’s Health Plan – reducing delayed diagnosis and late treatment for women and girls in areas such as endometriosis.
We are taking forward a programme of work focused on improving the pathway across primary, secondary and tertiary services. This will include work to improve workforce skills to encourage earlier recognition of symptoms and improving access to assessment and treatment to reduce diagnostic delays across Wales. As this work develops, we will give consideration to whether a target for diagnosis times is appropriate.
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) have developed Introductory and Fundamentals endometriosis training modules which are available to all staff (and external) via Y Ty Dysgu. Further modules will be developed during 2026/27.
Participation in the modules will be monitored, and consideration will be given to what, if any, additional actions are needed to increase uptake.
The implementation of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance across key areas of women’s health is supported by the Women’s Health Network in NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. The network is working with health boards to strengthen consistency, quality, and equity of service provision across Wales, ensuring regular benchmarking of pelvic health, menopause, and menstrual health services against relevant NICE guidelines. This work will also strengthen data collection, reporting, and transparency through the establishment of system-wide oversight of progress and variation in women’s health services with the aim of improving quality and access, and ensuring that care is equitable, evidence-based, and aligned with the ambitions of the Women’s Health Plan.