Dr. Geraldine Canny:

If I may, on research and funding bodies, we know that soon Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, and the Irish Research Council, IRC, will be disestablished to form Research and Innovation Ireland, a new national funding body. I propose that this is also a source of funding for research given that one does not just want a STEM approach but also an arts, humanities and social sciences approach. The latter would facilitate better incorporating the life of the sufferers and to understand their lived experience. In order to address such a complex disease and society-relevant topic, a multidisciplinary research approach should probably be taken. I would also say that there may be scope across universities that run medical schools to consider whether another module can be provided in terms of better understanding this pathology and the types of surgical skills required. As previously mentioned, it takes years for surgeons to develop the necessary skill set. Should surgeons not be sufficiently skilled, there can be severe consequences and sequelae for those they treat.