The pressing issue of prolonged wait times for both appointments and surgeries at Leeds hospital for specialist genecology/endometriosis has become a critical concern for Leeds patients. Over the past year, average wait times for both have exceeded a year, placing tremendous stress on patients and their families who are left in limbo, anxiously awaiting the medical attention they urgently need.

The impact of this is profound. It's not just about the physical toll; it's about the emotional and financial strains as well. Missed workdays, deterioration in health conditions, impact on fertility, and the constant uncertainty and risk of worsening/progressing disease take a severe toll on the wellbeing of patients. 

We are not filing a complaint, but rather seeking to raise awareness of the severity of this situation. The department recently became a BSGE accredited centre and the consultants are very experienced and passionate about women's care, performing highly complex surgeries with many positive outcomes for patients, but the department is hindered by lack of funding and resources.

The department should be receiving the support, resources and funding it needs to deliver this service in line with other BSGE centre's across the country, particularly at a time when gynaecology referrals are increasing by 12% nationally every year. With becoming a BSGE centre this has resulted in additional pressures on the department as they now receive referrals from out of area for complex patients who require surgical intervention that can only be done at a BSGE centre - yet what additional staffing, resources or funding have been given to the department to alleviate the inevitable pressures this has created on the department?

Our goal is to influence decision-makers, specifically our local MP and the CEO of Leeds hospital, to prioritize funding and resources to alleviate these wait times and conduct an urgent scrutiny meeting. 

In particular we wish to see the following implemented in the service all of which will reduce wait times and improve the level of care offered at a BSGE accredited centre:

• a weekly operating list for both laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery (in line with other BSGE centres which will drastically reduce the wait times currently affecting patients)
• a 3rd consultant recruited to the team (two consultants is simply not enough to account for annual leave, unexpected illness and increasing number of referrals due to BSGE accreditation etc)
• an additional endo nurse recruited to the team (many patients find the nurse service very useful but demand outweighs capacity once again)
• a specialist pelvic physio team for endo pain management as a treatment option on the NHS (this treatment option is not available on the NHS yet yields good results for many patients for managing their pain)
• reinstatement of a dedicated gynaecology ward for patient recovery after surgery
• implementation of non-invasive (non-surgical) testing for endometriosis done at the very earliest point of contact into the service (vastly reducing wait times and need for investigative laparoscopic surgery)  
• Ensuring post surgical consultations and non surgical follow up review appointments happen in a timely and consistent manner. 
• further funding and resources to support the team with the additional pressures/influx of BSGE patients from out of area

Your support is crucial in driving this change. By signing this petition, you are advocating for better healthcare services and ensuring that the voices of those affected are heard by the authorities. For too long have women's health issues been deprioritised and overlooked in the NHS when it comes to funding and research. 

Please join us in this effort to bring about much-needed improvements in our healthcare system. Sign now and help us make a difference in Leeds.