To ask the Minister of Health to detail any care pathways that are available for those with endometriosis, in each Health and Social Care Trust.

All HSC Trusts currently provide care for women with endometriosis, with referrals managed under the care of consultant gynaecologists and services delivered through multidisciplinary teams. This approach ensures that women receive appropriate care throughout their treatment journey, with consultants, nurses and allied health professionals each contributing specialist expertise within their respective disciplines.

A regional endometriosis pathway for Northern Ireland has been agreed and developed collaboratively with stakeholders from both primary and secondary care. Importantly, this pathway will be adopted across all five HSC Trusts, providing a consistent and equitable model of care. The pathway provides a clear and consistent route to care across Northern Ireland, from first presentation in primary care to local and regional specialist services, with appropriate follow-up after treatment.

The pathway establishes a standardised approach to diagnosis and treatment, including the assessment of symptoms, investigations to determine disease severity and progression, and the planning of appropriate interventions. Management options range from ongoing monitoring and hormonal therapies to surgical treatment, with fertility considerations embedded throughout the patient pathway.

Recognising that effective endometriosis care requires a multidisciplinary approach, the pathway incorporates the contribution of endometriosis specialist nurses, physiotherapy, psychology, chronic pain services and other relevant surgical specialties. This will help ensure that women receive coordinated, person-centred care that addresses the wide-ranging impacts of the condition.

To support implementation, HSC Trusts are developing business cases to strengthen local endometriosis services, alongside the establishment of regional tertiary endometriosis centres in the Belfast and Western HSC Trusts. This will create a model of care, combining enhanced local access with regional expertise for women requiring more complex treatment.

The model aligns with the nationally recognised endometriosis pathway and represents a significant step towards improving outcomes and reducing variation in service provision. While current funding constraints mean that it will not be possible to implement all elements of the pathway immediately, the agreed regional pathway will nonetheless be adopted across all five Trusts, with implementation proceeding on a phased basis.