David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1483. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE patients who have been facilitated for treatment in the United States for full or partial removal of transobturator mesh implants; if a patient could access public funding for such treatment in the US; if so, the person or body that authorises same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43125/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that complications from a mesh implant are very distressing and painful for those women involved. Women’s health is a priority for this Government, as outlined in the programme for Government and since the emergence of this matter, the ongoing priority focus for the Department and the HSE has been to meet the care needs of women experiencing mesh complications. Women affected by mesh continue to be strongly encouraged to engage with the relevant HSE contact points and the associated care pathways, to ensure that their service needs can be identified and provided for.

Considerable work has been done and continues to progress in Ireland in relation to the safe use of mesh implants and ensuring that all women who develop mesh-related complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary and patient-centred care is a priority.

Multidisciplinary specialist services are available for women suffering from mesh complications through a National Specialist Centre which has been developed over two sites at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin and these have received specific funding from the HSE for the provision of these services. Both centres currently treat women suffering with post-mesh complications and have been accepting referrals from the national pathway since it was set up in November 2018.

The HSE has created a dedicated web page about vaginal mesh implants, including contact information regarding the pathways for women suffering complications. Full details of mesh removal services and contact information for relevant hospitals are available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/vaginal-mesh-implants/.

As this Parliamentary Question also relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.