Seanad debates

Monday, 17 May 2021

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Health Services

10:30 am

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here. I also thank her for the work she does on behalf of older people and in the area of mental health. It is fitting that she is here to discuss the menopause. This matter relates to older women and those who are suffering from mental health issues because of a lack of understanding and awareness and many have either been misdiagnosed or have not had the proper diagnosis. I know the Minister of State will be bring compassion and understanding to the matter. I have not previously sensed or felt as much frustration, liberation or emotion as I have in recent weeks in the context of the discussions we are starting to have with regard to the menopause.

We have had not only decades but centuries of not discussing something that 51% of our population experiences. We know that women generally live one third of their lives post menopause. The quality of that third of their lives very much depends on the support and treatments they receive during the menopause. Some 80% of women have a difficult menopause. I have read and listened to accounts of what large numbers of women have gone through, many of whom have opened up and told their stories and outlined their journeys. That has been cathartic for these women in many ways. I want to listen to all the recordings from Joe Duffy's radio show of the women telling their stories, outlining their journeys and expressing their sadness, anger and frustration at not being believed about what they were going through.There were stories of women who were put on anti-depression medication or being diagnosed with different conditions and referred to consultants and of people not understanding. It is shocking that we are having these conversations at this stage.

We want encourage and support women and, of course, men to lead healthy and fulfilling lives at every stage of their lives. We need to support women and we need to support men to understand what the women in their lives are going through. We need to support our health professionals because far too many GPs and physiotherapists do not have the proper supports or training on what they need to do to support their patients.

It has been a breath of fresh air in many ways, even when looking at some of the Facebook groups such as The Irish Menopause and My Second Spring groups. Reading and listening to these stories, I felt I had found my tribe. I could identify with and relate to all of it. The floodgates have

opened in terms of the menopause and I thank all the women who have been brave enough to share their stories.

Women are being misdiagnosed. They have been denied treatment and given incorrect treatment. We need to change that for women who will go through the menopause in future. We need to ensure they get proper treatment and we have awareness programmes in place in health and education.

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important issue, which was also discussed in the Dáil during the Topical Issues debate on Thursday last. Sometimes Ministers can be asked to respond to questions in an area with which they are not especially familiar, but when it came to talking about the menopause, I was well qualified to answer.

It is great to hear what has happened on the airwaves over the last couple of weeks. Women have been given a voice and somebody to listen to them. That was a huge part of it. It was therapeutic that someone was there to listen. It was also great for men to be given an understanding of how difficult it can be for women going through the menopause.

The Government recognises that menopause is a key health issue for women in Ireland today. Stigma and uncertainty persist for many women on an issue which will impact over half of the population and this has to change. Work is under way to drive progress in this area. This has been driven by the women's health task force, which was convened in September 2019 to improve health outcomes and experiences for women and girls.

The menopause has been identified as a priority under the women's health task force. A number of initial priority areas for action were determined by the task force in 2020, with the issue of menopause recognised and included as one of these priority areas. This is welcome.

In terms of treatment, most women will experience some symptoms around the menopause. The duration and severity of these symptoms vary from woman to woman. It is recommended that women who experience menopausal symptoms which they find difficult to deal with see their GP. GPs can offer treatment and suggest lifestyle changes if a woman has severe menopausal symptoms that have a significant impact on her everyday activities.

Discussion is under way between the Department and the HSE on the provision of potential additional support to this area and I will be happy to update the House on the matter once it has been approved and finalised.

An important aspect to mention is that increased information and awareness has been a key ask heard from women on this issue. This has been heard by the women's health task force, both through direct engagement with stakeholders and the national radical listening consultation exercise under way to capture women's voices and views of health in Ireland. This has also been reiterated in recent media conversations. I am happy to share details of activity, both under way and planned, which will address this ask specifically such as the inclusion of menopause as a topic within the new HSE online citizen health guides currently under development.Menopause will be included within a women's health information repository site of trusted sources, to be developed over the coming months. It will also be included as a topic in an education and communication campaign on specific women's health issues that is intended to be held later this year. Women's health will be represented on the healthy workplace framework implementation committee that will be convened later this year. This will help ensure women's health needs are addressed in this forum with particular reference to increased awareness of menopause within the workplace, which can be very difficult for some ladies. I was listening one day to a woman who felt there was no understanding in the workplace of what she was going through.

I hope this has given the Senator some assurance that the Department and the HSE are fully aware of the importance of this issue for the women of Ireland, and that we are actively engaged to deliver positive change in this area. I know the Senator will drive this issue in the Seanad.

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the work that is being done to include the menopause as a priority under the women's health task force. I also thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, because he has already done quite a bit of work in the area of women's health and that must be recognised. Education and research are central to removing the taboos and stigma around the menopause and supporting women going through their journey. The Minister of State mentioned that the menopause will be included as a topic within the new HSE online citizen health guides that are currently being developed, and the women's health information repository site is important. We have to keep talking about this. That is key. The women who are tuning in to this debate should keep talking, listening and sharing and we will keep talking here. As chair of the women's caucus, this is something we will continue bringing up with the Minister.

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined, menopause has been recognised by the women's health task force as a priority healthcare issue impacting women. Significant activity is planned for this year to increase awareness and access to information, which was a key ask from the women of Ireland. As the Senator has said, it is only right and fitting to acknowledge the work of the Minister for Health, who is progressing these new initiatives. While GPs can advise women who experience difficult menopausal symptoms on potential treatments and lifestyle changes that may benefit them, discussion has also taken place on the provision of potential additional supports in this area. I will be happy to speak further on those once they are finalised. Both the Department and the HSE are very much engaged and committed to driving progress in this important area. I again thank the Senator for inviting me in today to speak on this very important issue. I have no doubt that the voice of the women's caucus will be very loud in progressing this matter.

Photo of Sharon KeoganSharon Keogan (Independent)
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Having 40% women Senators has driven women's health into the limelight. I am very thankful that we are doing that, for once.