House of Commons debate - Gynaecological services: Waiting lists (6 July 2022)

Summary

This is the transcript of a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons on waiting lists for gynaecological services.

Content

What is a Westminster Hall debate?

Westminster Hall debates give Members of Parliament (MPs) an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

Waiting lists for gynaecological services

Key points raised in this debate included:

• Emma Hardy MP noted that gynaecological waiting lists across the UK have now reached a combined figure of more than 610,000—a 69% increase on pre-pandemic levels. She stated that the number of women waiting over a year for care has increased from just 66 in February 2020 to nearly 29,000 two years later, at the end of April 2022—the highest number ever recorded.
• Lyn Brown MP highlighted concerns about hysteroscopy procedures and access to pain relief, noted that many patients are left with “the choice of either having the procedure without pain relief or waiting months to have it with pain relief."
• Feryal Clark MP talked about the postcode lottery of gynaecological waiting lists across the country, noting that “there has been an 89% rise in the north-west, a 97% increase in the midlands and a 144% increase in the east of England”.
• Emma Hardy MP stated that though specialist mesh treatment centres had opened, these have been “beset with problems over access, waiting times and cancellations”.

Related reading

RCOG - Left for too long: Understanding the scale and impact of gynaecology waiting lists (6 April 2022)