Sky’s people and politics correspondent Nick Martin spent time with Jasmine, who has been battling endometriosis for the last eleven years. Since she was twelve, Jasmine has had numerous appointments, consultations, and surgeries through the NHS. Like millions of others, she has faced long waits, often extending for months or years, for necessary treatments.
The severity of Jasmine’s condition is evident in her daily struggles. She is often in such immense pain that getting out of bed is a challenge. Clutching a hot water bottle and relying on morphine, she describes her pain as a constant burning sensation that feels like a “ball of acid” in her torso. This debilitating pain, a result of endometriosis, involves cells similar to those lining the womb appearing elsewhere in the body, causing inflammation, pain, and scar tissue.
Jasmine’s journey with the NHS has been fraught with difficulties. Despite numerous appointments and surgeries, she has felt neglected and unimportant, as if her issues were not significant enough to warrant immediate attention. Her surgery was cancelled six times before she finally underwent the operation, after waiting a year and seven months without adequate explanations for the delays.
The broader picture of NHS treatment is grim, with the number of people waiting for treatment doubling to 7.5 million since the pandemic. Although NHS targets aim for 92% of patients to begin treatment within 18 weeks, this target has not been met for nearly a decade. This issue is critical for voters in the upcoming general election, with a Sky News poll showing that 39% of people want the next government to prioritise reducing NHS waiting times. The poll also revealed that 61% of respondents believe the NHS is in a “poor state”, with parts of it “broken”.
When asked which party they trust most to manage the NHS, 32% of respondents chose Labour, while only 9% favoured the Conservatives. However, a significant portion of the population, about a quarter, lacks faith in any party’s ability to effectively manage the NHS. Labour has promised to cut waiting times by offering 40,000 more evening and weekend appointments each week, funded by cracking down on tax avoidance and non-doms. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have also pledged to reduce waiting lists by investing an additional £1bn into the NHS.
The plight of those with endometriosis highlights the broader issue. On average, it takes eight years and ten months to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, gynaecology waiting lists have surged by over 60%, the largest increase in any specialism, with nearly 600,000 people on these lists in England alone.
An NHS spokesperson emphasised the seriousness with which the NHS regards endometriosis, stressing the importance of supporting women experiencing both physical pain and psychological effects. The NHS is dedicated to addressing women’s healthcare needs by rolling out dedicated pelvic health clinics and supporting the development of women’s health hubs to improve menstrual health services and outcomes.
Jasmine remains hopeful for better NHS management, despite her ongoing wait for an operation to ease her symptoms. She acknowledges the physical and mental toll of her condition, lamenting the loss of her dreams and energy. Jasmine wishes for more attention to the NHS from whichever party wins the election, though she is sceptical about significant improvements from any party in the current political climate.
One Health Group PLC (AQSE:OHGR) are a team of Consultant Surgeons and Healthcare managers working with the NHS to provide faster, local and expert care in Orthopaedics, Spinal, General Surgery and Gynaecology.
