
This prestigious accreditation reflects the highest standards of care and signifies the Trust’s commitment to excellence in endometriosis treatment. Achieving BSGE accreditation will position Leeds among the top hospitals in the UK for endometriosis treatment, recognised for their clinical expertise, patient-centred approach, and commitment to ongoing research and innovation.
The team have made significant advancements in the treatment of endometriosis, including the introduction of robotic surgery and new opportunities to take part in research. Last year the gynaecology team started performing endometriosis surgery using a surgical robot. This cutting-edge technology is less invasive and allows for greater precision and shorter recovery times – with many patients going home on the same day.
Clinical Lead for Gynaecology, Mr James Tibbott recently performed the first Endometriosis Robotic High Intensity Theatre (HIT) list, operating on six patients in one day. This is an efficient and safe way to maximise the number of patients being treated and contributes to reducing waiting lists.
He explains: “The Da Vinci Robot allows us to perform surgery for endometriosis with greater precision, reducing surgery time to around 40 minutes compared to an hour or more for laparoscopic procedures. The high intensity list enabled us to increase operating theatre efficiency, therefore reducing waiting times and providing more patients with surgery to improve their symptoms.”
Endometriosis, a complex and often misunderstood condition, affects millions of women worldwide, causing chronic pain and impacting their daily life. In response to the increase in referrals for specialist care, LTHT has taken a significant step forward by creating this dedicated team to provide more support for patients with endometriosis.
The team work closely with specialist teams including colorectal and thoracics so that patients with severe (deep infiltrating) endometriosis receive joined up care. When patients require surgery, this can mean specialist surgeons operating together to remove endometriosis tissue from organs to reduce pain and improve quality of life. The team also work alongside the Leeds Pain and Interventional Neuromodulation Service, to offer patients new ways to manage chronic pain including specialist implanted devices.
Research into endometriosis is important in understanding the condition and developing new treatments to improve future care. The team are continually recruiting to new studies and they have recently surpassed their recruitment goal for the ESPriT2 research study, which aims to find out the effectiveness of laparoscopic removal of isolated superficial peritoneal endometriosis for the management of chronic pelvic pain.
Dorota Hardy, Consultant Gynaecologist, said: “This success not only demonstrates our commitment to advancing endometriosis research but also promises huge benefits for our patients, contributing to better diagnosis, treatment, and overall care for those affected by this condition.”
Leeds will also host the BSGE Annual Scientific Meeting in April 2025, bringing together internationally renowned gynaecology specialists and putting the city on the map for endometriosis care.
James Tibbott, Clinical Lead for Gynaecology, commented, “We are delighted to have been awarded provisional accreditation, which is the culmination of years of hard work from our gynaecology team supported specialties including radiology, colorectal surgery, urology surgery, thoracic surgery, plastic surgery and pain management. We are dedicated to achieving excellence in endometriosis treatment, reducing waiting times and improving quality of life for our patients.”
For more information please visit Endometriosis – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.