Women with endometriosis in Ireland have been let down - Ní Mhurchú

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological conditions in Ireland and affects approximately 1 in 10 women.

Ireland South MEP candidate Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has said women with endometriosis in Ireland have been let down by the HSE. She described the treatment of endometriosis in Ireland as being under-resourced and under-funded and that many Irish women living with endometriosis have been suffering chronic pain and in some cases opting to travel abroad for treatment under the EU Cross Border Health care directive.

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological conditions in Ireland and affects approximately 1 in 10 women. It is estimated that 47% of women who experience fertility issues have endometriosis. In many cases, endometriosis may only be suspected or diagnosed when a woman undergoes fertility investigations. 

Ní Mhurchú has said that endometriosis patients in Ireland feel let down by the HSE.  While she welcomed a new national framework for endometriosis treatment, which has been introduced by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly,  she has called for a faster timeline for the delivery of five new regional endometriosis hubs, and two regional centres in Tallaght and Cork. The 5 regional endometriosis hubs will be in The Rotunda, Coombe, National Maternity Hospital, Limerick and Galway. Ní Mhurchú has called for the new plan to be properly resourced and also called for patient advocates to play a leading role in the development of new services targeted at the treatment of endometriosis. 

Speaking following meetings with women who were living with endometriosis in Carlow, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú described our historic treatment of women with endometriosis in Ireland as appalling, 

“These women did not know where to turn, which hospital to go to or which doctor to see. There were issues around both the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis and  I am happy to finally see some movement on the part of the HSE in making amends. It can take as long as 9 year to get a diagnosis of endometriosis, all the while women are waiting for treatment in chronic pain.” 

“Women are still travelling abroad for surgeries for endometriosis and I understand that recruitment for the new regional centres has not been as quick as we would expect. I am calling on the HSE to get the new centres up and running without delay. I am also calling for proper resources to accompany the new plan. Our expertise in the area is lacking and this new endometriosis plan by the HSE should be a starting point, not an end point. We need more specialist staff who understand endometriosis, we need to develop more clinical expertise and work on better treatment so that women are not living with chronic pain” 

ENDS