Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the adoption across the NHS of the new name polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (previously polycystic ovary syndrome) and what steps they are taking to improve medical professionals' knowledge of, and provision of treatment for, the condition.

The Government recognises the need to improve awareness of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and welcomes the renaming of this condition from polycystic ovary syndrome to PMOS, a change that reflects the multisystemic nature of the condition.

NHS England is in the process of reflecting the name change on the relevant National Health Service webpage for this condition, as well as updating the page to reflect current guidance. Going forward, NHS England will adopt the name change across all pathways, communications, and information, and will promote the revised approach and the new name across all its networks.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has already adopted the new term for the guideline that it is developing on PMOS which is expected to be published in December this year, with the draft guideline published for consultation in July.

The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including PMOS, and we have taken action to address this.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health, including PMOS.

Women's health is included the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs), including PMOS.

The curriculum also covers the healthcare needs of women across all diseases seen in primary care, as it is important women are treated holistically. This ensures that all future GPs receive education on women’s health.

The RCGP has also published a Women’s Health Library which brings together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health from the RCGP, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. This resource is continually updated to ensure GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date advice to provide the best care for their patients.