Dáil debates

Thursday, 31 March 2022

Women's Health Action Plan: Statements

 

2:25 pm

Photo of Verona MurphyVerona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the women’s health action plan published a few weeks ago. Before looking at the details of the plan, I reiterate a point I made earlier in the week when I had the opportunity to speak about waiting lists. It is very important that we get the basics right. We can have all the fancy plans in the world but if waiting lists are getting longer and longer, then the plans will not meet their targets and people will not receive the help and support they need.

Women and men’s health outcomes will be improved by the reduction of waiting times for important consultations and treatments. What worries me when reading through this plan is that many of the welcome initiatives will go the way of everything else in the HSE, namely, waiting lists, lack of staff, lack of capacity, etc. This is my major fear because I sincerely hope that the aims and objectives in this plan will be successful and a lot better than those we had for Mesh Survivors Ireland, who had to primarily go abroad in most cases for treatment.

I will focus first on the section of the plan entitled "What will change in 2022?" because that is what is most important. What is the plan actually going to achieve? The aim is to have nine specialist eating disorder teams operating nationally. I hope they will be properly staffed because the long-time absence of a dietician in CAMHS in Wexford shows the difficulty in staffing in related areas. I also welcome the provision for an improvement in maternity bereavement services. It is a devastating time for parents when a child is lost, either through miscarriage or premature death. The availability of support services should be widespread to help people cope with such a loss.

The plan in general focuses on the headings "Listen", "Invest" and "Deliver". In fairness to those involved in healthcare provision and those at Government level, listening and investment are usually done pretty well. We have more than adequate funding of our health service. The Department of Health budget has increased from €13.6 billion in 2016 to just under €22 billion in 2021. No one could say we are not investing. However, it is the return on that investment that continues to be a question, which is the delivery part in the HSE. In the delivery section of the report, many phrases are used, such as "We will improve", "We will develop" and "We will support", but the action plan is bereft of specific targets. Maybe they will be published later but without specific targets there is no means to judge whether this action plan will work. Using phrases such as "We will improve" and "We will support" is vague and non-specific. We need a different approach in health because the current approach to accountability and achieving outcomes is just not working, as the length of our waiting lists demonstrates all too clearly.

We need specific targets and budgets to achieve those targets, and specific people for ensuring that those targets are met. We can then easily compare the plan with the results to measure its success and hold people to account for any shortcomings.

I have spoken about menstrual health in the past. Twelve months ago, in the debate on International Women's Day, I said that we need to ensure that no woman in this country is unable to access menstrual products due to poverty or is reluctant to ask for provision due to embarrassment. I am pleased this is referenced in the action plan alongside gynaecological and pelvic health. The plan mentions two specialist endometriosis services for complex care. The Minister will be aware that March is endometriosis month. There have been calls for fertility clinics for women in late stages of endometriosis and free contraception for women with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. There needs to be more awareness of both as they are severe illnesses.

In his closing remarks, I ask the Minister of State to confirm that he is aware of the serious shortage and lack of availability in HRT patches and gels that many women say are life-changing and life-saving medications. The Irish Countrywomen's Association has written to all Oireachtas Members to consider the call by the National Women's Council for a dedicated Minister for women and equality or one for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Violence against women must end and action must be taken with that in mind. I acknowledge the initiative of Colour Her Way taken by two Wexford ladies, Christine Doyle of Christine Doyle Wellbeing and Amy Murray of D’lush Café. They are providing purple gilets with personal alarms built in for women and girls who wish to walk or run so that they can feel safer and more confident.

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