The Welsh Government have invested £1 million per year to fund the postings as part of wider plans to help improve women’s health services.
The new roles were created by the Women’s Health Implementation Group (WHIG) which was established by the Welsh Government in 2018 to help deliver schemes like this.
There are now specialist endometriosis nurses in place at all seven Welsh Health Boards, they will all spend time with both patients and clinicians to improve services whilst also working together to share best practice and build more consistency within women health services across the country.
The WHIG have also introduced a website which will be dedicated to endometriosis patients and the newly appointed nurses.
The website, called Endometriosis Cymru includes a symptoms tracker which could be used to help in diagnosis and speed up treatment for people suffering with the condition as well as personal accounts from women across Wales.
Eluned Morgan, Health Minister, said: “Endometriosis affects one in ten women. It can cause serious pain and can seriously impact quality of life for women affected by the condition.
“Our Women’s Health Implementation Group is progressing vital work to support women’s health and the appointment of a dedicated endometriosis nurse in each health board will help raise awareness, diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition across Wales.
“I have heard of distressing accounts of misdiagnosis and women with this condition not being taken seriously with this condition, I am determined that women in Wales get the service they deserve.
“Historically women’s health services have not had equal treatment and women’s voices have been ignored. I am determined that we raise the standards of all women’s health services in Wales and this summer I will be publishing a Quality Statement setting out how that will be achieved.”
During Endometriosis Awareness Week, which ran from the 3rd to the 9th of March, the Health Minister and Sue Tranka, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, met with six of the new specialist nurses who will now embark of the aim to improve women’s health.
