‘A Real Turning Point’: Endometriosis Advocates Meet Health Minister Following Success of 'Endo the Battle' Campaign

Health writer Sarah McCann and Laura Collins hand over a folder containing more than 400 anonymous responses from the Endo the Battle survey to Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health. Credit: Sarah McCann / The Yorkshire Post

Campaigners for better endometriosis care have hailed a “real turning point” in the fight for recognition and reform, following a landmark meeting with Health Minister Baroness Merron at the Department of Health and Social Care.

The meeting, held in July 2025, was the result of the Endo the Battle campaign - an initiative led by The Yorkshire Post in partnership with advocates across the UK, which collected over 400 personal accounts from people living with endometriosis. These testimonies, ranging from diagnostic delays to healthcare discrimination, were hand-delivered to the Department as part of an urgent call for systemic change.

Jodie Hughes, chair of Endo South Coast and one of the leading advocates at the meeting, described the gathering as a pivotal moment. “Being in the room with ministers gave us the chance to ensure that the lived experiences of people with endometriosis were heard directly and clearly,” Hughes said.

“Advocates play a crucial role in bridging the gap between policy and reality - we bring the human impact to the table, which is essential if we want to see meaningful, lasting change.”

Health writer and campaign lead Sarah McCann, who also lives with endometriosis, presented a dossier containing harrowing stories from patients across the country. Among the submissions were accounts of people being told pregnancy was a “cure,” being misdiagnosed with IBS, or having their symptoms dismissed as anxiety or depression.

The campaign brought together a broad coalition of voices including author and educator Jen Moore, Endo Buddies founder Katy Phillips, and Endo South Coast representatives Chloe Gwinnet and Jodie Hughes. Chloe’s twin sister, Freya, tragically died in December 2023 from complications related to thoracic endometriosis - a stark reminder of the condition’s potential severity.

Also contributing virtually were leading advocates Rey, author of Endometriosis and the Knowledge Gap, Sarah Harris and Neelam Heera from Cysters UK, and Anna Cooper of the Menstrual Health Project. The group shared personal stories, research, and solutions, covering themes such as medical misogyny, racial disparities in care, symptom dismissal, and the chronic lack of funding for endometriosis research and treatment.

Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, responded with empathy and urgency.

“This is more than just a medical condition. This is a condition that clearly impacts on every single area of your life. It impacts work life, friends and families and the list continues,” she said.

She continued: “This is everyone's business. You have spoken about the system and not being heard. The system needs to work around the patient, not the patient around the system.”

Baroness Merron praised the campaigners’ dedication, acknowledging the self-funded research and heartfelt advocacy as crucial to informing future policy. She affirmed that women’s health remains central to the NHS’ 10-Year Plan and committed to pursuing immediate changes, not just long-term reforms.

“There is a lot of work that needs to be done. This is the beginning,” she added. “It's not about waiting 10 years. There are changes we want to make now. It's about changing the way the NHS works.”

The Endo the Battle campaign continues to grow momentum, providing a platform for patients to share their stories and demand the care they deserve. With direct access to decision-makers and growing public awareness, campaigners say they are hopeful that this is the beginning of real, measurable progress in endometriosis care.

Read Sarah McCann’s personal endometriosis story here.