Hundreds of Women Seek Endometriosis Care Abroad as Irish System Fails

More than 500 women from Ireland have traveled abroad for endometriosis treatment, highlighting significant deficiencies within the national healthcare system. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill acknowledged that these women have been let down by the existing infrastructure, as recent data revealed that there are currently 747 women on waiting lists for endometriosis surgery in Ireland. Among them, 175 have been waiting for between three and six months.

The Endometriosis Association of Ireland contends that these statistics reflect only a fraction of the actual number of women suffering from the condition. According to the association’s chair, Damien Donoghue, approximately 300,000 women in Ireland are believed to have endometriosis, with an estimated 30,000 needing complex surgical intervention. Many women report enduring lengthy periods of misdiagnosis, preventing them from even being placed on official waiting lists.

Healthcare Gaps and Patient Experiences

Donoghue described the situation as a “postcode lottery,” pointing out the limited access to specialized care. There are only two supra-regional specialist centers in Ireland, located at Tallaght University Hospital and in Cork. Unfortunately, there is no established framework for general practitioners to refer cases to these centers, meaning many women never receive the necessary treatment.

The minister has admitted that the figures she has received do not accurately represent the scale of the issue. “The patient community is quite angry, but I think the minister is listening now,” Donoghue stated.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects approximately 10% of girls and women worldwide, which translates to about 190 million individuals. The condition causes tissue similar to the uterine lining to grow in other parts of the body, potentially impacting organs such as the bladder and bowel. Patients often experience severe, chronic pain, yet the condition is frequently dismissed as merely a women’s health issue.

Recent figures obtained by RTÉ News indicate that over 500 women have traveled to specialist endometriosis clinics in Romania, Spain, and the UK over the past three years. In many cases, these women have self-diagnosed and sought care abroad, a process fraught with potential risks, particularly regarding aftercare.

Government Response and Future Plans

Minister Carroll MacNeill expressed her dismay at the current state of care for women with severe endometriosis. “I think women with complex, severe endometriosis have been failed by our collective lack of understanding, including my own,” she said. The minister highlighted the debilitating nature of the condition and acknowledged that more needs to be done.

According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), 226 women traveled abroad last year for gynaecology procedures under the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive and the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme. However, specific figures for endometriosis treatments are not available. The minister has requested more detailed data on how many women are seeking treatment abroad, emphasizing that this issue cannot simply be categorized under general gynaecology.

Carroll MacNeill noted that the pain experienced by these women can be excruciating. “There are women with whole systems, from the shoulders to the pelvis and beyond, that have been impacted in this way,” she explained. The minister is actively working with HSE chief Bernard Gloster to provide financial assistance to women traveling for treatment.

A national endometriosis framework was proposed over two years ago, with the minister expecting to publish this framework within the next two weeks. The HSE has recognized the challenges in providing endometriosis care in Ireland but stated it is now a key priority. Significant progress has been made in recent years, including the establishment of multidisciplinary teams to deliver holistic care, which encompasses roles in colorectal, urology, and radiology, as well as women’s health physiotherapists and specialist nurses.

The ongoing situation underscores the urgent need for reform in the healthcare system to ensure that women suffering from endometriosis receive the timely and effective care they need without having to seek treatment abroad.