The region's busiest hospital has been accredited by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BGSE) as a national centre for endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body - and like those in the womb they build up, then break down and bleed every month.

However unlike the cells in the womb, which leave the body through menstration, the blood has no way to escape.

Around 1.5m women in the UK live with the debiltating condition, which can lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) team treats around 600 new patients with endometriosis a year, and the hospital has now been recognised for the care it provides.

To become an accredited centre, a hospital must meet stringent criteria regarding the service it provides to patients. Requirements include a dedicated, consultant-led endometriosis service run within a specialist outpatient clinic and access to a multidisciplinary team including a named colorectal surgeon, urologists, radiologists and pain management specialists. The NNUH team also includes an endometriosis specialist nurse and, as part of the accreditation process, were asked to submit a video of complex gynaecological surgery to remove endometriosis.

Additionally, the department provide follow-up care and monitoring to patients for two years following surgery, collecting data on outcomes for national submission.

In addition the team at NNUH is building on the hospital's reputation for training and the next generation of expert endometriosis surgeons are now being trained in Norwich. Dr Ed Prosser-Snelling is in his final year of post-graduate training, and is honing the keyhole surgery skills required for this challenging condition. He said: 'The team at the Norfolk and Norwich have supported me in learning advanced skills in gynaecology as well as techniques in urology and colorectal surgery and the collaborative learning environment is a real credit to the hospital. Our endometriosis centre is an excellent example of how hospital departments can come together and manage complex disease effectively for the benefit of patients in their care.'