Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee
The Endometriosis Centres project continues to grow and gain respect. In 2018, the BSGE Endometriosis Centres Scientific Advisory Group published ground-breaking research in BMJ Open. Laparoscopic excision of deep rectovaginal endometriosis in BSGE endometriosis centres: a multicentre prospective cohort study, wasthe largest study of its kind in the world. Using data from the Endometriosis Centres, the study looked at nearly 5000 patients who had surgery for severe endometriosis, performed by more than 100 different surgeons in 51 different hospitals. Dominic Byrne, past BSGE President, said:
“The BSGE has worked for over a decade to establish and accredit a network of specialist Endometriosis Centres, so patients with severe endometriosis can have access to specialist laparoscopic surgery. This paper is the culmination of this enormous effort and reports the outcome of nearly 5,000 patients. It is a landmark moment.”
Emma Cox, Chief Executive of Endometriosis UK welcomed the research saying it
‘Clearly shows the necessity and positive effects of laparoscopic excisional surgery for women with rectovaginal endometriosis. This is proof that – done by experts in specialist centres – surgery can reduce pain and severe symptoms, enabling women to stay in work as well as improving their quality of life.’
NICE published a guideline on endometriosis in 2017. BSGE Endometriosis Centres were recognised within this. They are seen as an opportunity to deliver a specialist service nationally which should prove to be beneficial to patients and more cost effective.
Future challenges
In the future, one of the challenges will be to decide how far or how wide the scope of the Endometriosis Centres should be. There has been a great deal of international interest in developing centres. We need to understand how broad we can make the project and continue to ensure that centres are appropriately accredited.
Following successful publication, we look forward to continuing to use the database as a source of information and research output. However, data protection is a further challenge for the portfolio, accordingly we have made a decision to make all patient data anonymous.
Exemplar Videos
Exemplar videos were introduced in 2016 and have now been embedded in accreditation. The accreditation process is evolving and a minimum of 10 hours per week became mandatory for centre accreditation in 2018. Exemplar videos need to be completed by the end of December and will be assessed in January 2019.
I look forward to updating you on the progress of the Centres both on the website and in a future edition of The Scope, please get in touch if you have any comments or suggestions for the portfolio.
Meet The Portfolio Members
Angus Thomson
Chair of Endometriosis Centres & Scientific Advisory Group
Having been a consultant since 2005 in a busy DGH, I have always been passionate about advancing MAS surgery within gynaecology. The BSGE Worcestershire Endometriosis Centre is amongst the busiest in the country, striving to improve care. My other special interest is laparoscopic urogynaecology in our BSUG accredited Urogynaecology unit.
Since training in the North West of England and my fellowship in Australia in 2003-5, I have retained a keen interest in laparoscopic training and still assist with local, national and international courses. We have an advanced SITM trainee and have made laparoscopic surgery the default surgical route for gynaecology in our unit. We are constantly trying to improve the quality of care provided, optimising minimal access approaches to surgery, reducing length of stay and incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to care and service improvement. My previous experience as Clinical Director and Divisional Director has given me a broad understanding of the NHS and the challenges we face in training, governance, finance and specialist commissioning. I am now the Deputy Medical Director for our local NHS (Herefordshire & Worcestershire ICB) providing leadership for elective, cancer and diagnostic services.
As Chair of the Endometriosis Centres Committee for the BSGE we are striving for improvements in care for women with Endometriosis. We are keen to develop Endometriosis networks with Endometriosis Centres and Units to deliver complex care and improving diagnostic and referral pathways for all women suffering with this condition.
Karim Abdallah
Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Jane Allen
Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist
Hull Endometriosis Centre
Christian Becker
Endometriosis Centres & Scientific Advisory Group Subcommittee member
Associate Professor
Oxford University Hospitals NHS FT
Hope Blandford
Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Gynaecology and Endometriosis Advanced Nurse Practitioner
McNair Centre, Guys Hospital
Dipankar (Ron) Chowdhury
Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Senior Clinical Fellow, Endometriosis and Minimal Access Surgery
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Justin Clark
Endometriosis Centres & Scientific Advisory Group Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital & Honorary Professor of Gynaecology at the University of Birmingham
Andrew Horne
Endometriosis Centres & Scientific Advisory Group Subcommittee member
Director of the Centre for Reproductive Health
University of Edinburgh
Jon Hughes
Endometriosis Centres & Scientific Advisory Group Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS FT
Kirsty Munro
Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist & Endometriosis lead
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Oliver O’Donovan
Diagnostics and Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist and Endometriosis Lead
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston
Neelam Potdar
Endometriosis Centres Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist & Subspecialist Reproductive Medicine; Honorary Associate Professor
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester
Sarah Rizeq
Endometriosis Centres and Website & Digital Governance Subcommittee member
Senior Clinical Fellow and ST6 Trainee in Obstetrics & gynaecology
Centre for Endometriosis and Minimally Invasive Gynaecology (CEMIG), Ashford & St.Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust
Lucky Saraswat
Endometriosis Centres & Scientific Advisory Group Subcommittee member
Consultant Gynaecologist and Endometriosis specialist
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Arvind Vashisht
President
I have been a Member of Council holding different roles including Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the Silver Jubilee Meeting in 2015, Chair of Industry and Meetings Portfolio, Endometriosis Centres Chair, and now it’s an honour and a privilege to serve as President. These posts come with responsibilities, and as President I am eager to work on the foundations that have been laid by my predecessors, as well as to set our direction and strategy in keeping with the Society’s original vision and aims.
This translates as making sure that we evaluate pioneering surgical techniques, set standards and shape training in an inclusive and contemporary fashion.
By listening to patients and colleagues, we will be able to utilise all of the great willing, knowledge and enthusiasm  I see from our Council Representatives and Society Members to progress care for the national population we serve. At the heart of all of this remains the aim of driving better patient care.
To help achieve this, there are some key areas that we will be focusing on, which include embracing evolving surgical tools, such as robotic technology and enhanced surgical vision, widening and improving training opportunities for doctors and nurses, reforming our national accreditation program and improving the diagnostic reach for our patients.
All of this will require careful liaison with other national bodies, industry partners and sister organisations.
We are in very exciting times with a great deal of surgical and technological evolution coupled with growing membership and interest. I am confident that with a spirit of collaboration and a desire to consider change, we will be able to harness the very apparent enthusiasm and support of our Members to proudly and meaningfully advance the care we offer.