Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
303. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by her Department to address long waiting times for gynaecology and endometriosis services and access to improved specialist and multidisciplinary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27864/26]
View answer304. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by her Department to address the lack of consistent referral pathways between hospitals for endometriosis care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27865/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together.
On 18 October 2025, I launched the National Framework for the management of Endometriosis. The Framework sets out for the first time in Ireland a defined clinical pathway for women with endometriosis, which spans primary to secondary care to specialist complex care in tertiary settings.
The Framework provides for the development of a more holistic and comprehensive approach to care for women with endometriosis in Ireland. It outlines a system where women with endometriosis should have ready access to services that are effective, timely and safe, and enable the lowest level of clinical intervention that is required for each woman, at the easiest point of access. Many endometriosis cases can be managed at primary care level in the first instance, while some patients will require additional multi-disciplinary support at secondary care level.
Local hospital-based gynaecology services can address mild presentations of endometriosis that have been escalated and referred by GPs. Local gynaecology services may undertake investigations and treatment and management at this level may include a diagnostic and or therapeutic laparoscopy and medical management.
For cases requiring an additional level of multidisciplinary management, the Framework suggests a consultant-to-consultant referral to a Regional Specialist Endometriosis Service. Regional Specialist Centres for moderate cases have been established in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, and University Hospital Limerick, with clinics under further development in University Hospital Galway and the National Maternity Hospital.
Women may be referred from a regional specialist endometriosis service to one of the supra-regional specialist centres in Tallaght and Cork for further specialist treatment.
All endometriosis sites are operational and taking referrals. Additional funding was provided last 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.
The HSE has carried out an analysis of the short term and medium-term requirements to build adequate capacity, improve clinical pathways and increase expertise within our endometriosis services. The expansion of endometriosis services in 2026 is supported through the National Service Plan.
Waiting times have decreased significantly following the introduction of the multi-annual Waiting List Action Plan approach in September 2021.Women affected by endometriosis may also be waiting on general gynaecology waiting lists. In March 2026, 78% of women were waiting less than six months for a gynaecology outpatient appointment in comparison to 55% in September 2021. This is despite overall general gynaecology referrals more than doubling from just over 50,000 in 2020 to almost 110,000 in 2025.
The HSE's National Women and Infant Health Programme has developed a Model of Care and a network of one-stop “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics. It is estimated that approximately 30-40% of general gynaecology referrals (i.e. from GPs) are suitable for management in the ambulatory setting. The intention is that each “one-stop” visit will provide a package of care consisting of assessment and treatment for each woman referred. These clinics are providing a more efficient and effective service for women by reducing the requirement for multiple outpatient appointments, thereby helping to improve clinical outcomes.
There are currently 18 “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics open. Further clinics are being developed which will ultimately result in 21 ambulatory gynaecology clinics nationally.
