To ask the Minister of Health whether (i) any assessment has been made of the petition to the UK Government calling for a maximum six month diagnosis target for endometriosis; and (ii) there are any plans to implement this target.

As yet there has been no specific assessment of the petition to the UK Government calling for a maximum six-month diagnosis target for endometriosis.

My officials are working with the Gynaecology Collaborative to invest across all five Trusts to increase and enhance diagnostic capacity, including the expansion of directtotest models and the provision of additional laparoscopy theatre and outpatient sessions. In parallel, work is underway to establish two regional endometriosis centres within the Western and Belfast Health and Social Care Trusts. These centres will deliver complex surgical care for women requiring tertiarylevel intervention, supported by multidisciplinary teams, including colorectal and urological surgeons. The development of these centres is aligned with the nationally agreed pathway for endometriosis care.

The development of endometriosis services remains one of my key priorities for improving women’s health. My officials expect the final agreement on the relevant business cases in the coming weeks. However, current funding is insufficient to secure all of the capacity required under the agreed pathway, and therefore the expansion of the service will need to proceed on a phased basis as additional funding becomes available.