Patients across the region with endometriosis are benefiting from a specialist service which has been recognised nationally.
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) – part of the NHS Humber Health Partnership group – have yet again had their endometriosis centres accredited by the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE).
This puts our gynaecology services on the map and gives patients the confidence that they’ll receive high-quality care. It’s also timely as March is Endometriosis Action Month.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb is found in other parts of the body, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, inside the tummy, and in or around the bladder or bowel. It can cause severe pelvic pain, painful intercourse and periods, bowel pain and urinary problems. Surgery for deep endometriosis is deemed complex and hence, as per National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, these treatments should be provided in accredited centres.
Heidi Boldock was a patient at the Endometriosis Centre at Scunthorpe hospital. She said: “I was in excruciating pain for two years before I had my hysterectomy. It was a life-changing operation for me – I went from being a ‘10’ on the pain chart to being a zero. You feel like you’re in good hands because they’re experts. It also usually takes many years to get a diagnosis for endometriosis. There will be lots of people out there who won’t know how to go about getting a diagnosis. My advice is go see your GP immediately if you think there’s a problem, as early diagnosis is key.”
Heidi was so pleased with the treatment she received that she even wrote some poetry about her experience and to thank the staff who saw her.
She added: “All of the staff were excellent and I couldn’t have asked for better treatment. I am now able to live a normal life.”
Victoria Puckering was a patient at the Endometriosis Centre at Hull. She said: “I had my surgery and I was really impressed with the treatment I received. I think knowing the centre has the BSGE accreditation gives you more confidence in the service – you know they’re specialists in what they do.”
Victoria also works for the charity – Endo Buddies – which creates care packages for people undergoing surgery for endometriosis.
She added: “Although there is more awareness of endometriosis than there used to be, I definitely think there still needs to be more.”
The NLaG endometriosis team. Left to right: Dr Nauman Akhtar, Mrs Tracy Duell, Mr Ramana Kallam, Miss Preeti Gandhi, Mrs Jane Palmer and Miss Sonia Abishek
Miss Preeti Gandhi, lead consultant gynaecologist for endometriosis and advance laparoscopy services at NLaG, said: This marks our fifth consecutive year of accreditation – a testament to the dedication, expertise, and collaborative working of the specialist team delivering care to patients with complex endometriosis. For endometriosis centres, the two most important things are for the surgeons to have advance laparoscopic surgical skills and to have a team which is passionate to deliver a high-quality service to the patients suffering in pain due to endometriosis. I’d like to express my gratitude to our team and all of the supporting services for this fantastic achievement.”
Mrs Jane Allen, who is one of two consultants in the Endometriosis Centre at HUTH along with Mr Keith Cunningham, said: “We’re delighted to be awarded this accreditation. This means we’ve been recognised for providing the highest quality treatment to patients with complex and deep endometriosis. This is a great news for our patients suffering from endometriosis, as they will benefit from a specialist service at the Trust. I want to say a big thank you to the team for all their help and support.”