Leeds Centre for Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain gains national accreditation
The Editor
Endometriosis patients in Leeds can now benefit from a fully accredited British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) Endometriosis Centre.
The team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been given the accreditation in recognition of its high standards of care, clinical expertise, patient-centred approach, and commitment to ongoing research and innovation.
The award comes during Endometriosis Awareness Month, shining a light on this complex and often misunderstood condition, which affects millions of women worldwide, causing chronic pain and impacting their daily life.
Clinical Lead for Gynaecology, Mr James Tibbott, said: “This is a fitting way to mark Endometriosis Awareness Month and it’s the culmination of more than four years of hard work to build an endometriosis and pelvic pain centre here in Leeds.
“It’s been a massive team effort, and this is recognition of the fantastic efforts of a huge range of colleagues - gynaecologists, specialist nurses, colorectal surgeons, urologists, radiologists, pain management specialists, fertility specialists, thoracic surgeons, theatre teams, anaesthetists, and administration colleagues.
“We hope this accreditation will enable the Trust to build on the service we provide here and ultimately help improve the lives of more endometriosis patients in the future. We are absolutely committed to achieving excellence in endometriosis treatment, reducing waiting times and improving quality of life for our patients.”
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth, and nationally demand for treatment is rising, with the total number of referrals now around a quarter higher than five years ago. This increase in demand led Leeds Teaching Hospitals to create this dedicated team to provide more support for patients.
Achieving BSGE accreditation positions Leeds among the top hospitals in the UK for endometriosis treatment. The team has made significant advancements in treatment, including new opportunities to take part in research, and the introduction of robotic surgery. This cutting-edge technology is less invasive and allows for greater precision and shorter recovery times – with many patients going home on the same day. This also contributes to reducing waiting times.
