James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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2217. To ask the Minister for Health the plans to improve access to healthcare for women suffering from endometriosis (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45160/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is recognised that endometriosis is a significant health issue for women in Ireland today and work is underway to improve services in this area.

I am engaging directly with women and listening to their personal experiences of endometriosis, including a Patient Voice Forum where women were invited to meet with me and share their experience. I have recently approved a plan with the HSE to expedite care for women with endometriosis including providing additional services to treat women with complex surgical needs.

A plan is also being developed to improve long term expertise and to build adequate future capacity within our specialist endometriosis services.

The Government has invested over €5 million in specialist endometriosis care since 2021. Two supra-regional specialist centres have been developed for the management of complex endometriosis, supported by five regional specialist centres for moderate cases.

Recognising the wide-ranging impact of the condition, multi-disciplinary teams have been funded to deliver holistic, person-centred care. These include consultant roles in colorectal, urology, and radiology, along with women’s health physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists, specialist nurses, and healthcare assistants.

The National Women and Infant’s Health Programme (NWHIP) is leading on the development and implementation of the National Endometriosis Framework and on the expansion of existing endometriosis services.

The Framework formalises a defined clinical pathway for endometriosis which underpins the services currently being implemented and expanded. The care pathway spans primary (GP) to secondary (hospital) to specialist complex care in tertiary settings.

The HSE has recently published new Clinical Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Endometriosis which provide clear referral pathways and guidance for medical professionals.

Endometriosis specialist services are expanding as recruitment continues with funding of over €2 million provided this year. This investment is supporting additional personnel to provide multidisciplinary care at both supra-regional and regional level. The Programme for Government commits to continue to expand endometriosis specialist services and we will continue to listen to the voices of the women affected by this chronic condition.