Women's Health News
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 8 March 2022
- Last updated on: 2 March 2023
2022
30 December 2022
Department of Health shares the results of research about Menopause in Ireland following the first government led Menopause Awareness Campaign in Ireland
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launched a government awareness campaign for menopause. The campaign is a direct response to the demand from Irish women for greater knowledge and understanding of menopause as well as better access to accurate information and supports so that they can proactively manage their experience. It will increase awareness of menopause and the symptoms associated with it and encourage open conversation to reduce the stigma associated with this phase of life.
The survey of 1,290 adults was completed by B&A on behalf of the Department of Health in November 2022.
16 December 2022
Expansion of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26 from 1 January 2023
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the expansion of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26, from 1 January 2023.
The free contraception scheme for women aged 17 to 25 was launched on 14 September 2022. The scheme is currently open to women aged 17 to 26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. Eligible women are able to visit GPs and other medical facilities such as family planning clinics for consultations regarding the best contraceptive options from them.
Expansion of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26 from 1 January 2023
17 October
Minister for Health launches inaugural Menopause Awareness Week
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launched the inaugural Menopause Awareness Week. The week was centred around World Menopause Day on Tuesday, 18 October 2022.
Since 2019, the Women’s Health Taskforce has listened to over 2,000 women, and organisations representing women, to understand where women wanted to see change and improvements to their experiences of healthcare.
Minister for Health launches inaugural Menopause Awareness Week
14 October
Minister for Health launches Menopause Awareness campaign
The nationwide campaign includes a 30-second advertisement in national and local radio, print ads in national newspapers and magazines, out-of-home advertising on digital displays and bus shelters nationwide, along with ads on digital and social media.
The Department of Health has developed gov.ie/menopause, a one stop shop for information about menopause and menopause symptoms, advice on proactive management, how to support someone going through menopause and links to appropriate clinical expertise.
23 September
Minister for Health announces additional funding for women’s screening services through the Women’s Health Fund
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced an additional €760,000 in funding for screening services through the Women’s Health Fund.
The latest allocation from the Women’s Health Fund will see investment in research, innovation, and supports for women in at-risk populations, including:
- addressing low uptake in BowelScreen for women in at-risk populations
- piloting a new national screening pathway for women with diabetes who become pregnant
- listening and responding to women’s experience of BreastCheck
14 September
Minister for Health launches free contraception scheme for women aged 17–25
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launched the free contraception scheme for women aged 17–25 who reside in Ireland. Funding of €9 million has been allocated to support the scheme in Budget 2022.
Minister for Health launches free contraception scheme for women aged 17–25
15 July
Ministers Donnelly and Butler announce additional €1.9 million in funding for women’s mental health services through the Women’s Health Fund
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler announced an additional €1.9 million in funding for women’s mental health services in 2022 through the Women’s Health Fund.
05 July
Minister Donnelly welcomes significant developments in Women’s Health at the launch of the National Women and Infants Health Programme's Annual Report 2021
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launched the National Women and Infants Health Programme’s Annual Report for 2021.
The National Women and Infants Health Programme was established in the HSE to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services, strengthening such services by bringing together work that is currently undertaken across primary, community and acute care. The Programme acts as a single central authority on maternity care and as a reference point and resource for women’s health issues within the HSE, providing for much needed coordinated oversight.
23 April
Minister for Health announces significant expansion of priority Women’s Health Services: Menopause Care, Postnatal Care and Endometriosis
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the allocation of €2.5 million funding for priority areas within the Women’s Health Action Plan.
The Women’s Health Fund (€10 million) will ring-fence €2.5 million for the National Women and Infants Health Programme in the HSE to accelerate service delivery in four critical areas in 2022.
8 March
Launch of the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022 – 2023
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has launched the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022 - 2023.
After listening to women of all ages and from all walks of Irish life, the Department of Health is changing the way we work to improve women’s health. This Plan focuses on improving health outcomes for women in Ireland.
2021
14 September
Minister for Health publishes report of women’s voices on women’s health in Ireland
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has published a report of a ‘radical listening’ exercise to hear women’s voices on women’s health through research commissioned by the Women’s Health Taskforce this year. Led by independent researchers, over 270 women participated in these discussions from all over Ireland, sharing their experiences of, and wishes for, the Irish health system.
10 September
Minister for Health announces a new approach to menopause care for women in Ireland
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today announced his commitment to establish dedicated specialist menopause clinics across Ireland. These clinics will form a core part of a new approach to menopause care for women in Ireland and will be supported by enhanced community and primary care supports as well as the publication of targeted and trusted sources of information for women experiencing menopause.