Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 2 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to issue guidelines to health professionals to ensure early diagnosis of endometriosis.

Answer: Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue guidelines to health professionals to ensure early diagnosis of endometriosis. [124190] Miss Melanie Johnson: We recognise the importance of improving the awareness of endometriosis among health professionals, particularly general practitioners, with whom women with this condition will first come into contact. It is the role of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce clinical guidance rather than the Department of Health. NICE is undertaking a referral practice project on advice to general practitioners about referring common conditions, the results of which should give us an effective way of offering referral guidance to GPs on endometriosis and other common conditions. The Department of Health is funding the National Endometriosis Society to produce information for GPs that will highlight the symptoms of endometriosis and encourage GPs to refer women appropriately for investigation and treatment.

Secondary information