In the UK, more than 3/4 of a million women are waiting to access gynaecological services, even when their health is worsening, making it the worst in the NHS.
The NHS Gynaecology Crisis
While alarming, it’s not surprising that the only medical field solely for women’s health is the one facing the biggest backlog. Historically, there has been an unfair bias in women’s healthcare, and gynaecological services bear the brunt of NHS cuts.
Far too often we are contacted by women who have previously sought medical help for symptoms such as heavy periods, chronic pain or incontinence only to have their concerns dismissed.
They’re made to feel as if their symptoms are normal. Symptoms become part of daily life as much as brushing your teeth. Women are expected to 'put up and shut up', even though their symptoms are often debilitating.
Without prompt investigation, these symptoms often go untreated for months, if not years. But such delays cost the NHS more in the long term.
- More women are becoming anaemic due to constant bleeding, increasing the need for iron or blood transfusions.
- More women are presenting at A&E with things like ruptured cysts, ovarian torsion and UTIs that have become septic because their conditions have worsened while waiting for treatment.
- More invasive surgery is needed, often with a multi-disciplinary team of bowel or bladder specialists.
- More women are unable to work due to chronic pain and constant bleeding, and end up having to claim benefits instead.
- More medical negligence claims are filed against the NHS because delayed diagnosis or treatment caused unnecessary pain and suffering.
Women deserve more.
What are the Gynaecology Wait Time Statistics?
In the UK, there are currently 751,531 people on the gynaecology waiting list, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). This figure has doubled since pre-Covid levels, growing faster than any other clinical speciality. It was 570,000 at the end of 2021.
In England, half of those waiting for treatment are exceeding the NHS target of 18 weeks following referral. Shockingly, around 30,000 have spent more than a year waiting to be seen by a specialist. Before 2020, there were just 66 who waited over 12 months.
The average wait is between 10.4 and 22.5 weeks. But it’s a postcode lottery, with NHS trusts having different waiting times. Those in more deprived areas have the highest waiting times for gynaecology services.
Adding to this backlog, every month more patients are referred than are seen. Even if you’re put through as a priority case, you could still be waiting around six to nine months for an appointment.
Where are These Gynaecology Waiting Times Happening?
Women are waiting at every stage: For initial appointments with a gynaecologist. For inpatient or day surgery and also as outpatients. Staff shortages, lack of inpatient beds, theatre capacity, and delays discharging patients are all adding to the problem.
Most of those who are waiting feel that a lack of communication has made matters worse. If they had a clearer idea of when they might be seen, it would be easier to plan ahead and mentally manage their symptoms.
What Are the Problems Facing Gynaecology?
Gynaecology has always been a low priority. It’s usually the first ward to give up beds during the winter admission crisis, and it's the same with surgery. Women who might have waited months for life-changing surgery are pushed back down the queue if an acute case comes in.
That’s because gynaecology conditions are classified as ‘benign’, meaning there’s no threat to life. The OBGYN priority in recent years has been on improving maternity services and gynaecological cancers.
There is very little consideration for the wider impact on those patients waiting for treatment of ‘benign’ conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, prolapse, polyps or fibroids.
A total lack of attention and investment, coupled with the stigma of gynaecological conditions, means that women are being made to tolerate pain and suffering when they shouldn’t have to.
The RCOG has recently launched a new data dashboard looking at the true crisis of gynaecological care in both scale and nature of the waits.
What Are the Wider Impacts of Gynaecology Issues?
Those who have heavy periods due to things like fibroids or endometriosis will understand the constant fear of leaking through your clothes. Often, even the triple protection of a tampon, sanitary towel and period underwear doesn’t prevent it. You’re second guessing your outfits and go prepared with spare clothes in case of accidents, choosing a long coat to cover up.
You can’t sleep because you’re conscious of bleeding in bed, laid on towels or wearing thick pyjamas even in summer. Then you’re fatigued because of not sleeping and, in some cases, chronic low iron levels.
Some people choose not to leave the house due to heavy bleeding or incontinence. Some employers might agree for you to work from home so you can manage it better. But some women are unable to work due to chronic pain or fatigue.
Sex lives are impacted, as too is fertility. You don’t feel like exercising because you’re emotionally and physically exhausted by back pain, cramps or spasms.
Gynaecological cancers might not be incidentally picked up, going unrecognised for longer. Cysts or polyps might be believed to be benign, but they are also aligned with an increased risk of cancer.
Mental health worsens with the constant anxiety of not knowing when treatment will be. You’re constantly questioning your health: is it menstrual symptomatic or something completely different? And, let’s face it, chronic pain and endless bleeding is depressing and traumatic.
Mostly, you dread that time of month, and without medical care and advice it becomes increasingly worse.
Gynaecological Medical Negligence Claims
Below are some examples of gynaecology negligence claims we have previously settled, along with cases currently being investigated by our specialist team of medical lawyers.
Endometriosis
Where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Due to delayed diagnosis, it often progresses to an advanced stage requiring more invasive surgery like complete hysterectomy or bowel resection due to adhesions.
- £500,000 for 37-year-old woman whose endometriosis went undiagnosed for 15 years
She first saw her GP aged 18 with severe period pains but was prescribed the contraceptive pill. Despite being referred to gynaecology, no scans or investigations were done to confirm or rule out endometriosis. It was assumed she had IBS until she stopped taking the pill 13 years later. By the time of diagnosis, the condition had advanced to stage 4 (the most severe grade), spreading around her ovaries and colon. She suffered severe pain, urgency to defecate, excessive vaginal bleeding, and severe pain on intercourse. She had ovarian failure and had become infertile due to the endometriosis, needing a hysterectomy. She also needed part of her bowel removing. Due to her symptoms, she had to give up her job as a teacher.
- Endometriosis claim under investigation
Sarah Johnson from our York office is currently supporting a woman in her 30s who experienced an electrosurgical injury during a procedure to treat endometriosis. Her ureter was damaged due to a failure to ensure it was kept away from the treatment site. She needed a nephrostomy bag to drain the kidneys, followed by re-implantation of the ureter with a stent, which was later removed to treat ureter damage. Unfortunately, she has developed painful bladder spasms, requiring anticholinergic medication and Botox injections to control them.
Fibroids
These are non-cancerous growths found in and around the womb, affecting two in three women. They cause heavy bleeding and painful periods which can be very debilitating. Fibroid feed on hormones, which is why they usually shrink after the menopause.
- £500,000 for injuries during fibroid removal surgery
A mum of twin boys was left infertile following fibroid removal surgery she’d had to improve her chances of having more children. During the surgery, her bowel and uterus were perforated but this was undetected at the time by the surgical team. She developed sepsis and needed more invasive abdominal surgery and a bowel resection, resulting in a stoma for two years. Part of the compensation claim included costs for a single round of surrogacy in the USA with donor eggs as she could no longer carry her own child and egg retrieval would be dangerous for her. It was settled in December 2023 by Caroline Moore, director of Medical Solicitors.
Ovarian cysts
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on an ovary. They're very common and do not usually cause any symptoms. Most ovarian cysts go away in a few months without needing any treatment, but they can also rupture or twist, needing surgical removal. Sometimes, this can result in the loss of an ovary, impacting fertility and reproductive health.
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£22,500 compensation for delayed diagnosis of ovarian cyst torsion
This client faced delayed treatment for a huge ovarian cyst with torsion, resulting in the removal of an ovary and fallopian tube. The woman was 21 at the time and a final year university student. She waited over two days in hospital before the surgery was done. The invasive midline laparotomy resulted in a lengthier and more painful recovery which affected her studies. She is also at increased risk of adhesions, chronic pelvic pain and incision hernias. The case was settled by Matthew Brown from our Sheffield office in June 2020.
- £80,000 compensation for colon perforation during ovarian cyst surgery
This client had keyhole surgery to remove a cyst on her ovary, but her colon was perforated during the procedure. She needed emergency surgery to repair it, having a colostomy bag for over a year. She also developed an incisional hernia that needed further surgery. The claim was settled by Sonia Parkes from our Sheffield office in January 2023.
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£195,000 compensation for unnecessary removal of ovary and fallopian tube after cancer misdiagnosis
This client was wrongly told an ovarian cyst was cancerous, leading to her having an ovary and fallopian tube removed unnecessarily. Gynaecologists failed to wait for hospital histopathology results before they made the decision to perform a salpingo-oophorectomy. She was only 22 at the time and the surgery caused infertility. Having planned to start a family in her 30s, she will now need IVF with frozen eggs to become pregnant. The claim was settled by Sarah Johnson, head of our York office, in November 2023.
- Ovarian cyst claim under investigation
Sarah Johnson from our York office is investigating the case of a woman in her 30s who experienced a failure to diagnose an ovarian torsion until too late. The delay meant both the fallopian tube and ovary needed removing, potentially causing an impact to future fertility and an earlier menopause.
Uterine Polyps
Polyps are finger-like growths that attach to the wall of the uterus. They can be as small as a sesame seed or larger than a golf ball. There may be just one or many polyps. Most endometrial polyps are not cancerous but they can be cancerous or pre-cancerous.
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Polyp case under investigation
Sarah Johnson is currently supporting a woman in her 60s whose uterus was perforated and had a damaged artery and ureter during removal of a polyp. There was a delay in diagnosis and treatment and she spent some time in ICU, requiring a procedure to reimplant her ureter. She developed an incisional hernia which has required complex abdominal surgery to repair from which she is still recovering.
Medical Solicitors: Here for You
As you can see, our team has vast experience in dealing with gynaecology medical negligence claims.
We strive to help as many people as possible get the answers they are looking for. However, no two cases of medical negligence are the same. Therefore, we take the time to carefully consider each enquiry to decide whether there is a good chance of success.
If we believe you may win your case, we will offer you a No Win No Fee agreement. There are never any upfront costs for our legal services and our fees are only deducted from the compensation you receive. More FAQs about compensation can be found here.
The team is made of up experienced legal professionals who all have different specialisms. We focus solely on medical negligence cases, a very in-depth and difficult area of the law that requires both legal and medical knowledge.
We truly care about giving the best legal advice and the highest standards of client care which is backed up by our five star reviews and testimonials from clients.
Please Note: Unfortunately, we do not handle medical negligence cases outside of England and Wales.