Brian Stanley demands urgent action on endometriosis care

The testimony from the last two speakers and particularly Deputy Whitmore's testimony that you read out from a woman who wrote to you, I have heard similar stories, maybe not as long, but snippets as a man of constituents have told me similar stories over the years and particularly in recent years about this problem. We have to stop exporting our health issues and people for treatment, and particularly women in the case of this chronic condition. Not near enough attention has been given to it, proper resources has not been given to the proper treatment of it, and we have a situation here where we have what has been described to me as pain like you can never actually describe in words that affects women's bodies this disease. Their pelvic pain, it affects fertility, it can cause scarring, it is very stressful, and on the monthly cycles it has been described to me very, very clearly, you know, how that exacerbates it and how it is worse. Several women have told me, and have described their own situations and that of their daughters to me. It also causes damage to other parts of the body, and that has been well documented, that it is not just the womb area, it is not just the pelvic area, it can affect several other parts of the body. The bowel and the kidneys, and many other parts. And I have to say to you that, you know, we have a situation here where we have a disease that affects 10% of women in Ireland, and surely if there is something affecting 10% of women, we have to stand up and take notice of this. And the fact that the average waiting time is eight to nine years, it is just, it is unbelievable that that is happening, and how this has been let run for so many years, all the women who have come before us in previous generations who have suffered this silently, and as somebody has already said, you know, the previous Deputy has said, you know, we are in 2025, this has to stop, and we have to try and, you know, put forward proper treatment, expert treatment for this, for this very debilitating condition. Endometriosis, as I said, causes, can cause infertility, and, and obviously for, for women and for couples trying to have a child, that, that presents a terrible problem for them. And the woman, unfortunately and wrongly, will often feel under pressure and blame themselves because of the condition. Many gynaecologists will strive to improve services, but there are issues around resourcing. There is also an issue around teeter time for surgeries and specialised, specialised treatment. Expert led surgery is a necessity, and we must deal with this area and improve the quality of that service for women. HSE guidelines acknowledge that this is a superior treatment for managing the condition and giving an improved quality of life. And while there is no known cure to actually prevent it from happening, many women who have proper treatment go on to live a good life when the condition is managed properly and when they get the proper care. Women have been failed for years in Ireland around this condition, and I know you have mentioned the five hubs, but the expertise, the level of expertise, and the level of staffing, and timely access, nine years, or eight years, or five years is not good enough. This needs to be done in a matter of months, that women can have treatment, once it is properly diagnosed, from diagnosis to treatment. We have to start shortening that in this country, but my God, nine years is appalling. So we need more surgeons in the area, there are only 25 out of 50 posts being filled, recruitment and retention of surgeons and clinical nurses in the field, has to be stepped up, and has to be stepped up at a pace that is needed. Women often feel that they are dismissed, if they are suffering, when they are suffering this, due to not being able to go to work, or do social events, or just participate in normal family life. And that is very distressing for them, and some of them have described that to me. Well of course, the situation as regards fertility creates a problem. We do have fertility clinics, and just to mention here as well, that there is a factor there in terms of the waiting times for those clinics and costs, and I want to mention that, while very welcome changes were brought in September 2023, not all couples are able to access the IVF treatment due to age, or perhaps weight issues, or other circumstances, and that needs to be re-examined. So the motion is calling on the Government to establish a state-of-the-art centre of excellence for endometriosis care, to establish specialised imaging and protocols, to assist gynecologists in identifying and mapping, and getting the information on endometriosis, to develop and fund a dedicated training and incentive programme. All that needed to be launched, Minister, is the nationwide public health campaign to raise awareness. We must have a situation where doctors and specialists start believing women when they present with this condition, because of the chronic nature of it, and the sheer number of women that have endured this throughout their life. So in conclusion, we are talking about women's health, and we can't forget about those women who suffer due to the menopause, an extreme condition for some women during that time of the month. And this is often overlooked, particularly around those women who are working, and who for many reasons have to take time off, or who struggle with mental health during that period. It can be a very emotional time for them, and we need to do better for them. I want to acknowledge in that context, Minister, and welcome the rollout since the last raise of the free HRT treatment. It is an issue that I raised with you and your predecessors on a number of occasions. I want to acknowledge the fact that the Government have done that, and certainly that is very very welcome, particularly for low and middle income families and women who maybe wouldn't be able to access it otherwise. But with this condition, we need a step change, we need improvements, there is a clear action plan there to be taken, and I would urge the Minister and the Government to get behind this and not have to export women having to go to Romania or anywhere else for treatment. And sometimes, I want to take it clean, whether it happens on a general standard plan. Lit Gom comen , nat fem som , nat fem som , nat fem , nat pa , nat fem en ou DR 게 , nat fem no , nat fem na , nat vers taz , nat fem en , on nat faire la enteter , nature Vous , nat fem se , nat fem se , nat les se , nat u și naar , nat les se . Totally . Non le can of ... forgot legen ,iet ad lie , nat les seus men n Frances leter