Waiting in pain: 'I've lost major organs to endometriosis'
麻豆社 research shows gynaecology waiting lists across the UK have more than doubled since February 2020.
Before the pandemic, the waiting list for gynaecology across the UK stood at 360,000. It's now more than 750,000, with women waiting for consultations, tests, and surgery for conditions including endometriosis.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says women鈥檚 health is constantly deprioritised, and points to 鈥減ersistent gender bias鈥�. Governments and health authorities across the UK acknowledge that 鈥渨omen are waiting too long鈥� but say they're working to make sure they can get support when needed.
For this episode of our 5 Minutes On podcast, the 麻豆社's health correspondent, Catherine Burns, has been to meet Anna Cooper, who was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 18. She's had a lot of treatment on the NHS, but has had to take out loans and borrow money from family to pay for private treatment when waiting lists were too long.
(Image: 麻豆社)
