Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is recommended that women who experience menopausal symptoms which they find difficult to deal with see their GP. GPs can offer treatments and suggest lifestyle changes if a woman has severe menopausal symptoms that have a significant impact on her everyday activities. Women who have a medical card are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards (including consultant services), all out-patient public hospital services (including consultant services).

A Women's Health Taskforce has been established by the Department of Health to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare. It met for the first time on 26th September 2019 and is being led by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the Director General of the European Institute for Women’s Health in partnership with the National Women’s Council of Ireland.

The Taskforce will tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health outcomes in Ireland and will work on these on a phased, prioritised basis. The first action will be a ‘radical listening’ exercise that will invite women in Ireland to share their experiences of and solutions for the health system. This will be a significant, substantial and large-scale consultation process. This data combined with the available evidence will form the basis for future policy and action to improve women’s health in Ireland.

As this question relates to an operational issue I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.