Kirsteen Sullivan, Labour MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow, has paid tribute to the West Lothian women whose years of campaigning inspired her to take the fight for better endometriosis support all the way to Westminster.
Sullivan chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis, whose inquiry into the condition's impact at work received evidence from more than 6,000 women and 200 employers. Its report, Endometriosis (Not) In the Workplace, was launched in Westminster on 14 October and sets out 12 recommendations on how employers and the Government can better support women living with the condition. The APPG now plans to use the report and the evidence behind it to press for further action in Parliament.
From council chamber to Commons
Sullivan first took up the issue as a West Lothian councillor, working alongside local campaigners whose experiences now sit at the heart of the inquiry.
Endo Warriors West Lothian was set up in 2017 by local women Candice and Claire after they found a severe lack of dedicated support in the area. The independent, grassroots support and awareness group now has around 1,500 members and runs a busy online community alongside monthly face-to-face meetings, where people seeking a diagnosis or already diagnosed can speak openly and support one another. Candice has also worked with the University of Edinburgh and other institutions to support much-needed research.
Nicola's was created in memory of Nicola Thyne, who lived with endometriosis and endured years of pain while waiting for treatment, and who died by suicide after her surgery was delayed once more. June, Nicola's mother Elaine and other volunteers built the group to offer mutual support and a space for open conversations about women's health and mental wellbeing, so that women across West Lothian have somewhere to turn and know they will be heard.
Campaigners including Candice, June and Lynn attended the report launch in Westminster.
A condition that affects one in ten women
Endometriosis affects around one in ten women, many of whom live with debilitating symptoms while facing long waits for diagnosis and treatment. For those trying to balance their health with a job, the impact can be profound. As chair of the APPG, Sullivan is championing greater workplace support and practical changes to help women remain in work and progress their careers.
Sullivan: 'From West Lothian to Westminster'
"This report belongs to the thousands of women who shared their experiences with us, and to campaigners like those here in West Lothian who have spent years fighting to make sure women with endometriosis are heard," Sullivan said.
"From the very beginning, this inquiry has been about the experiences of women and the courage of those who spoke out. They have turned their experiences and painful memories into a force for change, making life better for others. I supported the work of local campaigners as a councillor, and I've taken that campaign from West Lothian to Westminster."
Anyone affected by the issues raised in this story can contact Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123.
