Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones met with representatives of Endometriosis UK in parliament to discuss improving diagnosis and treatment for women suffering from the condition.
Data shows that 89 per cent of women aged 16 to 24, and 76 per cent of all women, would put off going to their GP about painful periods if it would interfere with their day-to-day activities. Reasons given include painful periods being considered a normal part of life or worries that they would not be taken seriously by a doctor.
Commenting on this Mr Jones said: ‘I have met with several constituents suffering from endometriosis and it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure prompt diagnosis and access to effective, safe and long-lasting treatment. Too many women are suffering chronic pain that either goes untreated or, if treatment is sought, find that it can evade many types of painkillers. I recently attended a Westminster Hall debate on this issue following which I met one-on-one with my colleague Maria Caulfield MP, Minister for Patient Safety and Primary Care in the Department of Health and Social Care, to raise concerns put to me.
“It is thanks to those constituents, and to organisations such as Endometriosis UK, that treatment of the condition will form a significant part of the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy. I know that colleagues across the House of Commons are keen to see this published as quickly as possible so that we can get to work debating and implementing it.”
Ms Caulfield, alongside Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid MP, recently wrote an article in the Daily Telegraph on this issue which you can read here.
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