Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Medical Treatments
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 42370, what progress has been made on implementing the updated November 2024 NICE guideline on endometriosis diagnosis and management across primary and secondary care.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
NHS England encourages adherence to guidance publications by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). However, healthcare professionals and practitioners are expected to take NICE guidelines into account alongside the individual needs, preferences, and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.
NHS England is currently developing a pelvic pain pathway for systems which will provide a framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across the healthcare system. This will be aligned with NICE guidance and will enable women to get care either in primary care, neighbourhood services, or specialist secondary care services in line with their needs.
NHS England is working with regions to encourage and support implementation of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care, which will help to support early recognition and diagnosis, reducing waiting times for women.
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