Seeking Northern Ireland Assembly Endometriosis Champions

If you live in Northern Ireland, please click here to take part in our Assembly elections campaign to improve endometriosis care in Northern Ireland. 

On the 5th of May 2022, elections are taking place for the Northern Ireland Assembly to elect 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Candidates hoping to get elected will be standing in one of the 18 multi member constituency seats. 

The Northern Ireland Assembly is responsible for health and social care, so having some Endometriosis Champions in the Assembly is really important. Endometriosis UK has worked with a number of currently elected MLAs who champion endometriosis during the current term of the Assembly, but it would be great to increase this number. We want to get some concrete commitments on endometriosis into the next Northern Ireland Programme for Government. 

In particular, we want the Next Programme for Government to commit to:

1. Baseline of endometriosis care for all – Ensuring everyone with endometriosis in Northern Ireland gets access to care and support in line with NICE guidance (1) including access to specialist care

2. Faster diagnosis – Reduce average time it takes to get a diagnosis of endometriosis from 8.5 years to four years by 2025 and under one year by 2030

3. Tackling pandemic backlog – Ensuring appropriate action and resources to tackle gynaecology backlog in particular for those with severe endometriosis who had surgery cancelled or postponed.

4. Menstrual wellbeing education – Ensuring age-appropriate comprehensive menstrual wellbeing education in all Northern Irish schools to improve awareness and understanding of menstrual health including endometriosis.