Chamber
Plenary, 28 Jun 2001
28 Jun 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Endometriosis
The passion with which Elaine Smith speaks on this subject has been mentioned. I advise her that women from Wick and Skye in the Highland Health Board area must spend a lot of time travelling, at great expense, to Aberdeen for treatment. Perhaps we could agree to hold a debate on that issue.
Annabel Goldie's motion led me to an extremely helpful website: ScotEndo, which was set up by Susan and Sandra. I also learned that there is an endometriosis awareness day on 4 July. The ScotEndo website is a wonderful source of information on the causes and treatment of endometriosis. The website shares information and provides guidance and tremendous support to women.
I was unaware of the condition until I prepared for the debate. Some figures show that 2 million women in the United Kingdom suffer from endometriosis. Whichever figures are correct, it is likely that around 200,000 women in Scotland are affected. I share the concern about the average time taken to diagnose the condition. As Kenny Gibson said, one cannot consider treatment until diagnosis has been made, yet in Scotland it can take seven years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, compared with six months in England. That is quite unacceptable.
I hope that the minister will give an update on Susan Deacon's written answer of 11 December 2000. Given that there are four projects in Scotland—one is supported by the health department's chief scientist office—I hope that some of that research has been concluded and that we are moving towards Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network guidelines and the kind of protocol that Annabel Goldie asked for, which will enable better diagnosis.
I will conclude with a quotation from the website:
"Endometriosis is not an infection.
Endometriosis is not contagious.
Endometriosis is not cancer."
The debate has been highly informative and I look forward to hearing the minister's response.
Annabel Goldie's motion led me to an extremely helpful website: ScotEndo, which was set up by Susan and Sandra. I also learned that there is an endometriosis awareness day on 4 July. The ScotEndo website is a wonderful source of information on the causes and treatment of endometriosis. The website shares information and provides guidance and tremendous support to women.
I was unaware of the condition until I prepared for the debate. Some figures show that 2 million women in the United Kingdom suffer from endometriosis. Whichever figures are correct, it is likely that around 200,000 women in Scotland are affected. I share the concern about the average time taken to diagnose the condition. As Kenny Gibson said, one cannot consider treatment until diagnosis has been made, yet in Scotland it can take seven years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, compared with six months in England. That is quite unacceptable.
I hope that the minister will give an update on Susan Deacon's written answer of 11 December 2000. Given that there are four projects in Scotland—one is supported by the health department's chief scientist office—I hope that some of that research has been concluded and that we are moving towards Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network guidelines and the kind of protocol that Annabel Goldie asked for, which will enable better diagnosis.
I will conclude with a quotation from the website:
"Endometriosis is not an infection.
Endometriosis is not contagious.
Endometriosis is not cancer."
The debate has been highly informative and I look forward to hearing the minister's response.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S1M-1970, in the name of Miss Annabel Goldie, on endometriosis.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes the debilitating effect which endometriosis has upon many women in Scotland; acknowledges the need for greater awareness of this di...
Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I have pleasure in opening the debate on the motion in my name. I thank colleagues for supporting the motion and for being present. In particular, I thank th...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
I start, of course, by congratulating Annabel Goldie on securing this important debate. This is a subject that receives very little recognition and I believe...
Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Annabel Goldie on securing this debate. I also congratulate her and Elaine Smith on their passionate and informed speeches.As I have a mother,...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, would like to thank Annabel Goldie for initiating this debate. Like her, I can barely pronounce the condition, let alone understand it—and even less ...
Elaine Smith:
Lab
Does Mary Scanlon agree that it is unacceptable that some health boards will help with fertility treatment and that others will not? Strangely, women who liv...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
The passion with which Elaine Smith speaks on this subject has been mentioned. I advise her that women from Wick and Skye in the Highland Health Board area m...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I congratulate Annabel Goldie on obtaining today's debate, which will help to raise the profile of endometriosis in Scotland. The timing of the debate is app...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
That concludes this debate on endometriosis. To those who are now heading off, I wish you happy holidays.
Meeting closed at 17:36.