Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank Deputy McDonald for raising the issue and for reading out Nikita's letter to her, which clearly illustrates the very debilitating impact endometriosis can have on women. It is extremely debilitating, painful and the span of impacts are very wide. Regarding a phased response, this can be at GP, gynaecology or indeed specialist centre level.

There has been progress for endometriosis. Approximately €5 million in additional funding has been spent and €2.1 million has been allocated for this year. If it is allowable, I ask Deputy McDonald to forward the correspondence to us because Nikita mentioned it has been three and half years. We have two supra-regional hubs established in Tallaght and Cork, with the latter opened recently. The estimates are saying, and they are conservative estimates, that there are 350 severe cases - and Nikita is clearly in the severe category - per year that will require a referral to the specialist endometriosis clinics and services that are located in Tallaght and Cork. In addition to those, there are five other hubs across the country in the Rotunda, the Coombe, the National Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway. There were approximately 760 women on a specific waiting list for treatment at the end of last year and the agenda is to get through the backlog as quick as possible. There are discussions under way and hopefully the national framework in respect of endometriosis will be concluded but there is engagement with GPs and between GPs and the HSE regarding the precise role of primary care versus gynaecological care and then obviously the specialist hubs.

As the Deputy said, one in ten women will have this condition. There is the development of a national endometriosis framework and the Minister is keen to bring this to a conclusion. This was discussed in the House previously and all questions have been asked in respect of that. The model of care has been outlined and there is a clear framework there. Investment is happening and will continue. This is on top of significant investment in women's health in recent years which has been quite transformative compared to what was there before. There has been specific investment into a whole range of areas pertaining to women's health. This is one area that needs further investment but it also needs the national framework to be concluded.

The two supra-regional hubs are there for the specialist and severe cases and the referral should be sent there in the context of Nikita's letter, although I do not have the full background to it. We fully acknowledge it is a very real issue for women involving very severe pain that impacts on one's personal and working life. It is something Government is very committed to addressing.

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