top of page
Working at home

‘Shocking’ Four-Year Wait for Endometriosis Treatment in Scotland

First published: 13/08/2024



Endometriosis, a painful condition affecting up to one in ten women, is causing growing concern in Scotland due to unacceptably long waiting times for treatment. Women suffering from the condition are facing delays of up to four years before receiving the care they need, despite recent improvements in awareness and diagnosis. This alarming situation was brought to light in an exclusive discussion between The Scotsman with Scotland’s Women’s Health Champion, Professor Anna Glasier, and Conservative MSP Roz McCall.


Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb begins to grow outside of it, causing severe pain and other debilitating symptoms. Although awareness of the condition has increased, particularly among healthcare professionals, the long waits for treatment continue to hinder women's health outcomes across Scotland.


“There have been significant improvements in how clinicians approach endometriosis in recent years,” Professor Glasier told The Scotsman. “Healthcare professionals and GPs are more aware of endometriosis, and we’ve been working hard to improve awareness among the public as well.”


Despite these advancements, the situation is far from ideal. Professor Glasier highlighted that women referred to specialist endometriosis clinics in Scotland often face wait times of 70 to 80 weeks as new patients. The delays only worsen from there, with those requiring surgery potentially waiting an additional two years. “That means from being referred to a specialist centre to having treatment, it is going to take you four years,” she said.


Roz McCall, who has lived with endometriosis for most of her adult life, described the situation as “shocking” and lamented the lack of progress over the years. “I had been struggling with my periods, as a lot of women do, for nearly 13 years by the time I got my diagnosis,” McCall shared. Her symptoms, which included severe pain, nausea, and lower back issues, were consistently dismissed by doctors until she was eventually diagnosed when she and her husband struggled to conceive.


McCall expressed deep concern that, despite increased awareness, the quality of care and treatment options for endometriosis have not improved significantly since her diagnosis 30 years ago. “It is not acted upon quickly enough – there are so many women coming forward and not getting the support they need for endometriosis, which is concerning,” she said.


Professor Glasier acknowledged these challenges, particularly the difficulty healthcare professionals face in diagnosing and referring women for endometriosis treatment. “It’s not easy for GPs to decide when to refer someone with pelvic pain to an endometriosis clinic rather than a gastroenterologist,” she explained. “While the publicity and training have improved, the communication between healthcare professionals and the women suffering from endometriosis still needs work.”


One point of contention between Professor Glasier and Ms. McCall is the use of hormonal contraceptives as a treatment for endometriosis. While McCall criticised the reliance on the pill, arguing that women are often not receptive to this treatment approach, Professor Glasier defended it as a practical and effective option. “Switching off somebody’s menstrual cycle by giving them hormones is the easiest way to do it,” Glasier explained. “There’s a feeling among the public that they get fobbed off when prescribed the pill for a gynaecological problem, but it’s important to explain why the pill is often the most appropriate treatment.”


Despite the challenges, Professor Glasier remains hopeful that continued efforts will improve the situation for women with endometriosis in Scotland. She emphasised the importance of understanding the condition and the rationale behind the treatment options available. “If you understand what your condition is and why it’s causing you pain, it helps. If you’ve got a sympathetic doctor, being on a waiting list is better than not being on one, because at least there’s light at the end of a very long tunnel,” she said.


Both Professor Glasier and Ms. McCall agree that more must be done to prioritise endometriosis within Scotland’s healthcare system. As McCall puts it, “The fact that this condition is still not getting the attention and care it deserves is truly shocking. We need to do better for the women suffering in silence.”


Professor Glasier is committed to making endometriosis a top priority in her role as Women’s Health Champion. However, with long waiting lists and limited treatment options, it is clear that much work remains to be done to ensure that women with endometriosis receive the timely and effective care they need.

コメント


bottom of page