Markus questions endometriosis diagnosis wait times

25th March, 2025

Markus Campbell-Savours MP for Penrith and Solway asked health minister Karin Smyth why after decades of efforts to improve diagnosis times, things have only got worse.

Markus Campbell-Savours MP asked: “An Early Day Motion from 2007 noted that women were typically waiting eight years to be diagnosed with endometriosis. Shockingly, nearly 20 years later, that wait has increased to nine years. This government is right to tackle the appalling waiting lists for surgery, but, the one in ten women who suffer with endometriosis, often struggle with years of pain, before surgery is even suggested, Would the minister outline what plans the department has to deal with theses delays and how we can ensure those working in primary care recognise this debilitating condition earlier.”

Karin Smyth MP said: “Those statistics are shocking. There have been campaigns led here and elsewhere that have helped raise awareness. NICE Guidelines updated will help. More appointments and our commitment to 18 weeks will also help. Training for GPs is now part of the core curriculum, and we expect that to yield good results. There is look across NHS England with the ONS on the statistics with regard to diagnosis metric standards and I am happy to update him outside of this and I know other members are also interested in how we make sure we deliver on these commitments.”

You can watch the exchange in the House of Commons here.