Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the (a) breadth and (b) quality of care provided to women with endometriosis in the NHS.

To support women with endometriosis, all obstetricians and gynaecologists have been trained in the diagnosis, investigation and management of the condition, which is specifically listed as topic in the core curriculum for obstetrics and gynaecology. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology has published clinical guidelines on the management of women with endometriosis to assist clinicians. In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a guideline on endometriosis which provides advice on what action to take when women with signs and symptoms of the condition first present in healthcare settings.

NHS England has developed a service specification for severe endometriosis under the specialised commissioning area of complex gynaecology. NHS England expects all units providing a service to women with severe endometriosis to provide care which meets the standards they have provided.

The British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy lists 45 accredited endometriosis centres around England. These centres offer integrated endometriosis care catering for women with severe disease. Conditions for accreditation include:

- A clinic specifically devoted to endometriosis patients;

- A dedicated endometriosis specialist nurse; and

- A support network of other clinicians, including urologists and pain management specialists.