Norfolk women facing longest gynaecology waits in England

At least 324 women suffering from often complex and painful gynaecological conditions, such as endometriosis, have been waiting nearly 15 months for treatment in the region.

Of these, 46 have been waiting longer than 18 months for desperately needed care, such as hysterectomies and prolapse repair surgeries.

The agonising delays were recently raised in parliament by Norwich North MP Alice Macdonald, who said women had "paid the price" for the "horrendous state of the NHS".

MP Alice Macdonald speaking in Parliament (Image: Parliament TV)

She said: "Women often have to face stigma and extra barriers to treatment, and the sky-high waiting lists Labour inherited have left patients without treatment and often in severe pain.

"As an incoming Labour government, we must tackle this.

"There is more to do to fight stigma, raise awareness, and enable women affected by gynaecological conditions to get the treatment they need."

Figures obtained by Ms Macdonald through the House of Commons Library show 11,985 outstanding gynaecological referrals in Norfolk, with just 43.1pc of patients seen within an 18-week target between referral and treatment.

This rate is the worst in the country, against a national average of 55.5pc and a target of 92pc. 

The MP raised the case of Rachel Royall, from Mile Cross in Norwich, who was told last year she would be facing a wait of up to 18 months for urgent endometriosis surgery and is yet to be treated.

Rachel Royall, who is still waiting for endometriosis surgery (Image: Rachel Royall)

In response to a question from Ms Macdonald, health minister Karin Smyth said: "We are looking urgently at gynaecological waits. They are far too high, including for endometriosis.

"We will be looking at women's health hubs and how they work, and future guidelines will help women to get a diagnosis more quickly and help with situations like Rachel's."

Health minister Karin Smyth (Image: UK Government)

Nina Green, 46, from Dickleburgh in South Norfolk, had a hysterectomy in June this year following a 10-month wait.

However, her gynaecological issues date back decades as she first experienced symptoms of endometriosis when she was 19.

Nina Green, right, pictured with her son Korben (Image: Nina Green)

She said that while in recent years the health professionals supporting her have been "excellent", she has regularly experienced long waits between courses of treatment.

"These waits should not be happening," Ms Green said. "So many women are suffering in excruciating pain and should not be waiting as long as they are.

"It can sometimes feel like an eternal struggle."

The mother-of-two added: "The most frustrating thing has been that each time old symptoms return, you have to go back to the start, tell your story all over again and then your wait starts again."

It comes after health bosses in Norfolk and Waveney unveiled plans to use government funding to establish 'virtual' health hubs for women to help provide greater care in the community.

A spokesman for NHS Norfolk and Waveney integrated care board said: "Healthcare services across Norfolk and Waveney are working incredibly hard to reduce the number of people waiting for planned care, including gynaecology services.

"We are working on multiple women's health initiatives, including improving women's health literacy, expanding access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), improving access to menopause care and upskilling our workforce, particularly in primary care.

"We are deeply committed to improving women's health services. Through a combination of enhanced capacity, targeted initiatives and community-focussed projects, we are determined to ensure all women have access to timely, effective and compassionate care."

The situation in Norfolk comes amid a UK-wide crisis in gynaecological care and women’s health provision in general.

A new report from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has revealed that the number of women waiting for hospital gynaecology services in would fill Wembley stadium eight times over.

The report suggests that particularly high waits in the East of England “could be driven by other reasons, such as challenges with NHS estates”.