House at last party to the reality of women’s health curse
We have described the moment when an MP took to the floor of the Commons as, “the highlight of a world campaign and the moment everything could change.”
Heywood and Middleton North member Elsie Blundell told Parliament that Britain was missing the contribution the brave women with endometriosis could make, because too many bosses didn’t have proper health plans.
And her remarks got a vote of support from the Government and our charity, who described it as, “the moment thousands of women have been waiting for.”
“The issue of endo has simply not be taken seriously enough” said Chair and Founder of Endometriosis Awareness North, Dr Anita Sharma, “and that is reflected in the fact that it takes TEN YEARS to diagnose. What other condition is left that long? Sufferers wait a decade to have treatment, meanwhile enduring intense physical pain, mental torture, potential infertility, and the loss of their job.
Elsie was correct when she said in the House that it curtails ambitions and costs the British economy over £8 billion a year in sick days and other costs.
Thank goodness we now have an advocate.”
Endometriosis occurs when cells which are usually present in the womb, adhere to other organs of the body, causing excruciating pain. This waring agony brings with it severe mental distress with studies showing that around half of sufferers have experienced dark thoughts. Symptoms such as back pain often ape other conditions meaning that medics dismiss patients who turn up in emergency units, without even checking their medical history.
“That response to endo patients is typical of the ignorant and sometimes misogynist nature of our health service” said Dr Sharma, who trains junior doctors and has written extensively on endometriosis. “Expertise is patchwork with areas of the South far outweighing the North, research is pretty much non-existent, and the attitude of society seems to be, “just get on with it.””
In her address to Parliament, Elsie Blundell’s call for flexible working and the drawing-up of employer health plans was endorsed by Ministers. Dr Sharma says that “seeds” such as this (plus a greater awareness of workplace menopause) are encouraging, but specialist endo hubs where everything from scans to counselling take place also need to follow.
Endometriosis “warriors” who have met Dr Sharma have included a woman whose career in teaching was curtailed due to time off sick, a Rochdale woman who was diagnosed at aged 44, and a local nurse who simply couldn’t countenance the lack of knowledge her peers had about endo.
“A few words in Parliament may not seem like much to some, but you can bet every significant development from the abolition of slavery to votes for women began with an idea expressed in the House” concluded Dr Sharma. “During what is Endometriosis Awareness Month, this is the first time in living memory this important issue has even been mentioned in The Commons, and we thank Elsie for making this happen.”
A better tomorrow called for - on the day before
On the eve of a celebration of women across the globe, our charity once again put the spotlight on the forgotten female condition – endometriosis.
Members of the team gathered at another bastion of equality – the Methodist Church in Hurst, Tameside – to celebrate International Women’s Day and call for quicker diagnosis, better treatment and even, a cure for a condition effecting one in ten females.
Dr Anita Sharma chair and founder of our charity said “The health and well-being of women is critical to the well-being of society. Women suffering with endometriosis are not getting the care they need, and this is costing £12.5 billion to the UK economy every year.”
For details on further events organised during Endometriosis Awareness Month, go to UPCOMINGEVENTS
Fighting talk from our warrior
“Most of all, they have convinced me that I am not alone. Someone feeling the same as you (when you have endo) is on the one hand tragic, but there’s strength in the unity of girls.”
That’s the view Tash has expressed this Endometriosis Awareness Month – as the warrior blogs on what our charity has done for her.
She also won’t mind us telling you that her diatribe includes some familiar scenarios – being dismissed by doctors, disbelieved by those around her and waiting an age for a diagnosis.
But she also possesses that same stout heart that many warriors have, and her response has been to involve her media students in campaigning for better awareness.
Go to (BLOGS)where it’s good to remind ourselves of what our charity and the current month-long campaign is all about!
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Doctor's appointment this endo month
Endometriosis Awareness Month is in full swing with events across the world raising the public consciousness.
But doesn’t it say everything about the situation that one group that needs real persuading – is doctors!
With that in mind, our founder Dr Anita Sharma is speaking at a MediConf event attended by thousands of practitioners across the worldwide web.
Recognising symptoms (and not merely dismissing them) will no doubt be high on her agenda. This might cut diagnosis times from their current level of 10 YEARS! Understanding the #mentalhealth strain of endo will be there also, as will encouraging doctors to campaign with us, put the issue on the public agenda, and find resource for better treatment and maybe even a cure.
Dr Sharma has a superb track record of speaking at medical events, ranging from training for resident (junior) doctors to international seminars for organisations such as BIDA (British International Doctors Association).
As you will see from the agenda, everything from diabetes to wheezes in schoolchildren will be covered.
For more on MediConf, go to https://www.mediconf.co.uk/
Find out what we're really about, on film
Click onto our brand new movie, detailing what Endometriosis Awareness North is all about Endometriosis Awareness North - YouTube
Featuring our treasured case study Courtney, it also gives medics a platform to call for quicker diagnosis of endometriosis.
With thanks to filmmakers Andrea Bertozzi and Pete Gibson Media.
Donate
We are registered with The Charity Commission. Our charity number is 1212676.
You can do your bit to research a cure to endo and support the one-in-ten women with the condition by going to our DONATE page.