GPs across Wales are being trained to recognise women’s symptoms of endometriosis earlier in a bid to improve diagnosis and women’s care. Endometriosis, which affects one in ten women, is a painful condition which is difficult to diagnose, and is a key component in the women’s health plan, which the Welsh government launched six months ago.

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is providing GPs with a new training programme, which is helping improve women’s experience of healthcare in Wales. The training programme has lead to a 43 per cent increase in participating GPs’ knowledge of the condition and more confident in discussing symptoms and treatment options with patients.

Endometriosis is one of eight priority areas in the women’s health plan, and other achievements since the plan’s launch last December include working to develop a women’s health hub in every health board area by March 2026, Wales’ first women’s health research centre funded by Health Care and Research Wales, and a focused call for research about women’s health communication.

Minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: “Women have told us that they feel they are not heard, and their symptoms are ignored. This training ensures women’s voices are central to their healthcare experience, and it helps GPs support their patients more effectively.

“Endometriosis can have a huge impact on a woman’s quality of life, their work and their relationships.

“I am determined our women’s health plan will drive real improvements in women’s health outcomes and reduce inequalities.”