Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
769. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused funding by the HSE to go to England to undergo mesh removal surgery on the basis that it is available in some Irish hospitals given that they were informed by their consultant that this is not the case and would need to travel for the operation. [46535/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that complications from a mesh implant are very distressing and painful for those women involved. Women’s health is a priority for this Government, as outlined in the Programme for Government and since the emergence of this matter, the ongoing priority focus for the Department and the HSE has been to meet the care needs of women experiencing mesh complications. Women affected by mesh continue to be strongly encouraged to engage with the relevant HSE contact points and the associated care pathways, to ensure that their service needs can be identified and provided for.
Considerable work has been done and continues to progress in Ireland in relation to the safe use of mesh implants and ensuring that all women who develop mesh-related complications receive high quality, multi-disciplinary and patient-centred care is a priority.
As this Parliamentary Question also relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
