Minister for Health announces funding for ambulatory gynaecology services and enhanced endometriosis service under the Women’s Health Fund

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has announced details of two areas to be funded under the recently established €5 million Women’s Health Fund:

• two community-based Ambulatory Gynaecology Services governed by two acute hospitals (Tallaght University Hospital, and University Maternity Hospital Limerick)
• expansion of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) to deliver a specialist endometriosis centre for the management and treatment of all forms of endometriosis, with particular focus on advanced and complex cases for which there is no ready access in Ireland

Minister Donnelly said:

The first area to be funded is the provision of two community-based Ambulatory Gynaecology Services governed by two acute hospitals (Tallaght University Hospital, and University Maternity Hospital Limerick, though located in Nenagh General Hospital) under the banner of the Women’s Health Taskforce. This project, with an associated cost of €1.415m, will see the establishment of one-stop “see and treat” gynaecology clinics in the community in which women can be seen and assessed, following referral by their GP to the hospital’s general gynaecology services. This service will address a clear and identified need, as gynaecology services are acknowledged and recognised as being a service area that continues to be under significant and growing pressure. These one-stop-see-and-treat clinics will play a significant role to improve access to gynaecology, reducing waiting times and improving clinical outcomes for women.

The second area to be funded is the expansion of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), with an associated cost of €641k, will deliver a specialist endometriosis centre for the management and treatment of all forms of endometriosis, with particular focus on advanced and complex cases for which there is no ready access in Ireland. Endometriosis is estimated to affect 1 in 10 women and represents one of the top four categories of symptoms that comprise approximately 80% of gynaecology referrals. The provision of a secure, supported, expanded and specialist service in Tallaght University Hospital will help to improve both clinical outcomes and overall care experience for women suffering from this debilitating condition.

Women’s Health Taskforce

Women’s Health is a priority for this government as outlined in the Programme for Government’s commitments to ‘Promoting Women’s Health’. A Women's Health Taskforce was established by the Department of Health to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare in September 2019 and following a recommendation from the Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme that women’s health issues be given more consistent, expert and committed attention by this department.

Operating on a phased and prioritised basis, the Taskforce is looking at a range of issues impacting women’s health. Based on the evidence and informed by women’s perspectives and views, the Taskforce identified 4 initial priorities within its initial 2-year action programme:

• improve gynaecological health
• improve supports for menopause
• improve physical activity
• improve mental health among women and girls

The Women’s Health Fund was put in place to support a programme of priority actions in these areas, based on evidence and extensive engagement with the HSE.

The Department of Health and our Taskforce partners the European Institute for Women’s Health, the HSE including the National Women and Infants’ Health Programme, The National Women’s Council of Ireland, The Irish College of General Practitioners, The Institute of Public Health, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will continue to listen to women and girls and work with them in the design and delivery of health and social care, and to promote a coherent, holistic approach to improving health outcomes and experiences for women and girls. The Women’s Health Taskforce webpage: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/-womens-health/

Maternity and Gynaecology Service Developments

The government is committed to promoting and improving women's health outcomes, as highlighted in the Programme for Government and underlined by the commitment, under Budget 2021, to provide €12m in funding for new developments in maternity and gynaecology services. This significant investment will help ensure a renewed impetus to the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy and help improve gynaecology services, for example, by accelerating the roll out of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care through the establishment of additional clinics in 2021.