Copyright dailyrecord
Bathgate and Linlithgow MP Kirsteen Sullivan has urged the Scottish Government to act on endometriosis. The MP recently convened a roundtable in Bathgate focused on the chronic condition which affects one in 10 women in Scotland. Despite the widespread nature of the condition, it remains poorly understood. Women and girls struggle to access care and treatment with average diagnosis times at almost nine years, impacting every aspect of their lives from education to the workplace, to their fertility. The roundtable brought together a remarkable group of women, including representatives from Endometriosis UK, West Lothian EndoWarriors, Nicola’s and West Lothian African Women’s Network. The women courageously shared their experiences of living with endometriosis and the difficulties they found in getting the appropriate treatment for their individual needs – there is no one size fits all when it comes to treatment. All too often, women find themselves told ‘suck it and see’ with various treatments on a medical merry-go-round which can go on for years; years lost to chronic pain, endless waiting, and a lack of joined-up care. The powerful discussion highlighted the devastating impact of delayed diagnoses, lack of specialist care, the impact on work and education, as well as the emotional toll of navigating the health service that too often overlooks this debilitating condition. Ms Sullivan said: “Waiting times for endometriosis care is a catastrophe. The stories shared by women at this roundtable were heart-breaking, but they were also a significant call to action. “These women are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our friends, we cannot continue to let thousands endure chronic pain for years on end.” Ms Sullivan is now urging the Scottish Government to set clear targets to reduce diagnosis waiting times, provide equitable access to individually tailored treatment and care, embed endometriosis awareness in the school curriculum and encourage endometriosis friend policies in the workplace. Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
