Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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430. To ask the Minister for Health the practical steps being taken, and future planned actions, to expand specialist endometriosis services and improve support services for women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52729/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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431. To ask the Minister for Health the implementation of the National Endometriosis Framework; the status of the five regional hubs and two supra-regional centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52730/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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433. To ask the Minister for Health if she will commit to funding and expanding access to expert-led excision surgery for endometriosis patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52732/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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435. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which her Department is ensuring that endometriosis patients have access to multidisciplinary care teams, including physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, and pain specialists; if additional funding will be allocated to expand these supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52735/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430, 431, 433 and 435 together.

The HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme has led on the development of the National Endometriosis Framework and on the expansion of existing endometriosis services. The Framework formalises a defined clinical pathway for women with endometriosis.

Following extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, the Framework is ready for publication.

The Model of Care will ensure that women receive timely, and effective treatment through two supra-regional specialist centres in Dublin (Tallaght) and Cork (Cork University Maternity Hospital), supported by five regional endometriosis specialist centres in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway.

Additional funding has been provided this year to expand these services through the recruitment of more personnel to provide multidisciplinary care at both supra-regional and regional level, including clinical nurse specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and psychologists.

On 1st September a Patient Voice Forum was held in the Department of Health. The Minister met with more than 50 advocates who shared their experiences of endometriosis. This forum was also attended by the HSE CEO Bernard Gloster and Department officials.

Patient voices have directly influenced changes to the completed framework. Following the forum, an immediate action plan was mandated by the Minister.

More than 100 additional surgeries will now be carried out across all regions this year. Over €0.5m has been provided to support this. In addition to facilitate complex surgeries, an additional colorectal surgeon is being recruited to our specialist services.

The HSE is providing additional support for women within the Treatment Abroad Schemes. A dedicated email address has been set up to assist women with this service.

An Endometriosis Group with patient advocates and Women's Health Taskforce members has been established. International endometriosis experts will be invited to collaborate and engage with our clinicians. The Minister will write to all GPs, consultants and other clinicians. Alongside the framework, this will serve to further raise awareness of endometriosis.

The HSE is working to improve long-term expertise in diagnostics and treatment, and to build future capacity.

A GP Practice Update and an endometriosis awareness campaign will maintain focus following from the publication of the Framework.

We will continue to listen and support women impacted by endometriosis.