Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack has highlighted publication of the Department of Health’s ‘National Framework for the Management of Endometriosis in Ireland’.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places.
The framework launch also saw the publication of a new enhanced treatment abroad scheme, known as the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (ESAIS).
Senator McCormack welcomes parts of the framework but says that it ‘fails to deliver for women and girls’.
She said: “I want to acknowledge the publication of this framework.
“We are currently studying it closely and engaging with the many advocacy groups and independent patient advocates who worked alongside us to bring forward Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion on endometriosis in July.
“While the framework finally recognises that care for women and girls with endometriosis in Ireland is not sufficient, there is a long road ahead to improve care and provide expert excision surgery in Ireland.
“One of the most glaring issues in this framework is the over-reliance on a primary care model, which is not sufficient to meet the complex needs of those with endometriosis. It is deeply disappointing that this has not been addressed.
“Endometriosis is a whole-body disease, and because every case presents differently, effective management requires a clear, structured pathway to multidisciplinary care – something that must extend well beyond the primary care setting.
“I want to acknowledge the voices of women who have contacted me since the publication of the framework. They feel frustrated, hurt, and once again, unheard.
“My hope is that this is a live document that the minister will be open to amending if she truly wants to have a patient focused framework.
“I welcome the introduction of an enhanced scheme to support endometriosis patients travelling for expert excision surgery, something Sinn Féin called for in our Dáil motion in July.
“We have heard from thousands of women who have travelled to experts in Bucharest, Athens, and London and received the gold-standard excision surgery and follow-up care.
“However, some of the main centres and expert surgeons are not included in this enhanced treatment abroad scheme.
“There is also a barrier faced in getting approval from an Irish consultant to sign off on this scheme, something many women highlighted was an issue when they tried to access care on the Cross Border Scheme.
“We need to see inclusion of the experts and centres women have travelled to – and continue to travel to – for care. As things stand currently, the top centres for care remain accessible only on the Cross Border Scheme.
“While I welcome the commitment to upfront reimbursement so that women can access vital treatment without financial hardship, ultimately, our goal must be a health system that provides timely diagnosis and treatment for endometriosis in Ireland.
“The success or failure of this framework and the ESAIS will depend entirely on its implementation and the real improvements it brings to the lives of women and girls living with endometriosis.”
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