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Closed Increase funding for treatment of women with chronic gynaecological conditions

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Waiting times for women suffering life-limiting gynaecological conditions are now unacceptable. More funding, to improve the availability of treatment and education of medical staff, is needed to improve the lives of women living with these chronic conditions.

Fibroids and endometriosis are painful conditions often marked as benign and therefore not treated promptly. Women can suffer extreme bleeding either during periods or outside of periods, which can result in embarrassing flooding. Regular pain, bloating, tiredness, acid reflux, stress incontinence, expansion of the uterus can result in growth that mimics pregnancy causing additional psychological distress. Stop ignoring and accepting it is OK for women to live with these debilitating conditions.

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  • Related activity

    New Women's Health Strategy published by the Government

    On Wednesday 20 July the Government published the first ever Women's Health Strategy for England. This document sets out the results of the consultation the Government ran in 2021 on women's health, and the actions it is taking to improve the health of women and girls.

    The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay MP, made a statement on the Strategy and took questions from MPs in the House of Commons, to coincide with the publication of the strategy.

    The Secretary of State's statement outlined the key ambitions and elements of the Strategy. These include:

    • Ensuring that women are better listened to in the NHS
    • Better access to services for all women and girls
    • Addressing the lack of research into women’s health conditions
    • Better information and education on issues relating to women’s health
    • Targeted action on specific areas such as fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, and female-specific health conditions such as endometriosis.

    Actions the Government has said it will take to help achieve these goals include introducing mandatory teaching and assessment on women’s health for all graduating medical students and incoming doctors, and undertaking new research and data gathering to increase understanding of women's health issues.

    You can read the Strategy in full on the UK Government website. The Strategy only covers England as government policy on health matters is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    Commitments on gynaecological conditions

    The Strategy sets out ambitions to improve education and awareness around gynaecological conditions, including a specific aim to improve care and reduce diagnosis times for endometriosis.

    It outlines actions NHS England is taking to reduce waiting times and improve patient experience within gynaecology services. It also commits to reviewing and updating NHS guidance on the treatment of endometriosis, to ensure the latest evidence and advice is being followed.

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  • Related activity

    Share your experience of waiting lists for gynecological services with MPs

    On Wednesday 6 July, MPs will take part in a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on waiting lists for gynecological services, led by Emma Hardy MP.

    To inform the debate, Emma Hardy wants to hear about your experiences of waiting times for such services, including those relating to endometriosis treatment. She may quote your contribution directly during her debate.

    Find out more and share your ideas with her by midday on Tuesday 5 July:

    Information page: Waiting lists for gynecological services

    Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said in it, and other relevant material will also be accessible shortly afterwards on this webpage.

    What are Westminster Hall debates?

    Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.

    Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

    Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.

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  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 22 December 2022.