Thank you for writing to me concerning Endometriosis Action Month.
My Welsh Conservative colleagues and I share your deep concern for the poor provision of care for endometriosis here in Wales.
Endometriosis is a complex disease that can vary in symptoms for different people, making it difficult to identify. However, as the report has identified, someone in Wales is likely to face a wait of over a year longer than someone in England before receiving a diagnosis. This is a damning indictment of the failures of Labour in their handling of the Welsh NHS over the last 25 years.
The pandemic had a significant and lasting effect on our Welsh NHS, impacting performance in all areas. This does not however justify the poor performance regarding the tackling of endometriosis here in Wales, particularly when someone can be diagnosed and treated in a significantly shorter period in every other part of the UK.
The tremendous amount of people it impacts, the damage is causes to our economy, and the resources it unnecessarily consumes are all reasons for this Welsh Labour Government to make handling endometriosis a priority, yet they continue to fall short.
My colleague Russell George MS, Shadow Minister for Health, has called for the Health Minister, Eluned Morgan MS, to show her support to this crucial cause by allocating greater funding to the ten-year Women and Girls Health Plan and to work with Health Boards and GPs across Wales to improve the detection and provision of care for endometriosis.
I thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
