For three years, the pains in Rebecca*\u2019s stomach, back and joints were becoming progressively worse. Physiotherapy didn\u2019t ease it and tests confirmed it wasn\u2019t arthritis, but detailed tracking revealed its link to her menstrual cycle. Soon, for between one and two weeks at a time \u2013 and before, during and after her period \u2013 the pain rendered her immobile and in need of a walking stick. She consulted her GP, who issued her prescription painkillers and medication for cramps, and also referred her to a gynaecologist. In December 2021, she received a hospital letter confirming her place on a gynaecology<\/a> waitlist.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I didn\u2019t realise is that I\u2019d be on the waitlist for over a year,\u201d she says. In that time, her physical and mental health \u2013 as well as her part-time studies for a PhD and her responsibilities as a mum of two teenagers \u2013 all suffered. \u201cHaving a fortnight out of action every month means I feel pressured to do my studying, household chores, and social events when I\u2019m functioning,\u201d she says. \u201cDuring immobile stints, my partner takes over the household responsibilities. I feel fortunate he can just about financially support us, [but I] can\u2019t imagine what it\u2019s like for single women with dependents who are unable to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca is one of the 38,231 women left waiting for a gynaecology appointment for more than a year<\/a>, according to NHS England<\/a> data analysed by Labour in 2022. In December 2012, the average national waiting time to see a gynaecologist was 4.8 weeks. By December 2022, it had increased to 15.6 weeks, tripling in a decade.<\/p>\n Faye Farthing, Head of Communications at Endometriosis UK, says that cases like Rebecca\u2019s aren\u2019t unusual. \u201cWe regularly hear from [people] in chronic pain, without access to the right support due to long waiting times,\u201d she says. \u201cThis can have a huge impact on all aspects of a person\u2019s life, including their physical and mental health, as well as their career and relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n After waiting seven months without an appointment, Rebecca invested in a \u00a330 TENS machine, which uses electrical impulses to relieve pain. At 11 months, she went on a contraceptive pill to regulate her hormones, despite its previous negative impact on her mental health. \u201cIt was already so low, though, that I had to give it a go.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca\u2019s partner created a spreadsheet to track the days she\u2019d likely be immobile, and they started to plan accordingly. But major life events were constantly affected. At her partner\u2019s brother\u2019s wedding, Rebecca used a walking stick which matched her dress \u2013 to find the glam in the situation. \u201cIt was a lovely day, but I couldn\u2019t stand,\u201d she says. \u201cI sat in the church, trying not to cry. I didn\u2019t make it to the reception. My partner helped me hobble to our hotel room, where I stayed for the night.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s frustrating because \u200bof how the system works. Even though I\u2019ve had a private consultation, I need an NHS consultation before they agree to a cystoscopy<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Sofia* says her experiences as a General Practitioner in South London validates Labour\u2019s findings and what Rebecca has faced since her referral. \u201cGynaecology waiting times have definitely increased in the past 10 years, and it\u2019s gotten worse since Covid,\u201d she says. \u201cThe system is broken. The NHS workforce is demoralised and more burnt out than ever before. Consequently, patients are harmed.\u201d\u00e2\u0080\u00af\u00e2\u0080\u00af She adds that a postcode lottery system regarding waiting times isn\u2019t helping matters. \u201cIt\u2019s area-dependent \u2013 some are up to a year, others six months. It\u2019s difficult to see patients suffering and, as a GP, I feel out of my depth.\u201d Sofia says that in instances of suspected gynaecological cancer, appointments can be sped up, but that, largely, \u201cthe NHS doesn\u2019t consider gynaecology urgent and necessary care\u201d.<\/p>\n Rebecca tried to expedite her appointment three times, but was told it wasn\u2019t possible due to pressure on the service. Doctors have long suspected that she has endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere, such as in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. The pathway to a diagnosis can vary, but it commonly involves a gynaecology appointment followed by a laparoscopy, a keyhole surgery which allows a surgeon to see inside the abdomen. But for more than a year she has been unable to have the condition confirmed. Finally, in December 2022, Rebecca was told she was able to see a gynaecologist. She\u2019s now awaiting a scan and a potential laparoscopy to diagnose whether or not endometriosis has been the cause of her chronic pain. According to Endometriosis UK, and because the condition is so difficult to diagnose, it takes an average of 7.5 years between a woman\u2019s first doctor\u2019s appointment and a formal diagnosis. Farthing says that \u201curgent action\u201d is needed to cut down that number.<\/p>\n Endometriosis isn\u2019t the only women\u2019s health issue which relies on a gynaecology appointment as a diagnostic stepping stone. The referral protocol for chronic urinary tract infections isn\u2019t straightforward, and women can also wait years for a diagnosis. It leads many to seek private treatment.<\/p>\n\n