Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to develop a national clinical pathway for the diagnosis and management of lipoedema.

The Department does not hold centrally collected data on the average time taken to diagnose lipoedema in England. Diagnosis is typically made clinically in primary or specialist care, and timelines can vary depending on individual presentation, awareness of the condition among healthcare professionals, and local referral pathways.

Responsibility for service design and care pathways sits with integrated care boards, which assess and meet the needs of their local populations. Clinicians are expected to draw on available evidence and guidance when diagnosing and managing lipoedema to ensure that care is informed by the best available knowledge, supports consistent clinical decision‑making, and reflects current understanding of this relatively under‑recognised condition. This helps promote safe, effective, and patient‑centred care while allowing clinicians to exercise judgement based on individual need.

Training curricula and continuing professional development are set by independent professional regulators and bodies, and it is for clinicians to maintain their knowledge and skills in line with the needs of their patients.

Clinicians can access a range of relevant education and training through existing professional development routes, including from the Royal College of General Practitioners, and condition-specific training provided by organisations like Lipoedema UK. These resources support clinicians in recognising and managing lipoedema.

Lipoedema is a relatively under‑researched condition, and evidence on co‑existing conditions is still emerging. Clinicians are expected to take a holistic, patient‑centred approach, considering co‑morbidities where present.