Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
328. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve access to gynaecology services; his plans to recruit additional endometriosis specialists; if the ambulatory clinics will offer same; the location of those clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12188/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is working with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for women awaiting general gynaecology, which includes patients with endometriosis, through the implementation of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care.
The Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care centres on the establishment of one-stop “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics. An ambulatory care model is a more efficient and effective use of resources than the traditional outpatient model and it is also better for the patient as it reduces the requirement for multiple outpatient appointments.
The roll out of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care began in 2020, and funding provided last year is enabling roll out to be significantly progressed through development of new clinics and expansion of some existing ambulatory gynaecology clinics. A number of these clinics are operational, while work is underway in relation to recruitment, refurbishment and equipping of the remaining ambulatory gynaecology clinics that were funded in 2021.
Building on this progress, funding has been provided under Budget 2022 which will facilitate the establishment of further ambulatory gynaecology clinics, thereby completing the implementation of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care. This will bring the total number of these clinics to 20 nationally. These clinics will be associated with each of the 19 maternity hospitals across the country as well as in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH).
In terms of other initiatives relating to improving access to gynaecology services, I would also like to highlight that the recently launched 2022 Waiting List Action Plan allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists by 18% this year. This Action Plan includes a number of specific measures relating to gynaecology, and will provide access to additional theatre capacity for gynaecology activity in the Coombe, and will provide additional IPDC capacity at Cork University Maternity Hospital through increased theatre sessions.
With particular reference to endometriosis, as part of the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, in April 2021, I announced the expansion of the endometriosis service at TUH to deliver a specialist endometriosis centre for the management and treatment of all forms of endometriosis, with particular focus on advanced and complex cases for which there had previously been no ready access in Ireland.
Building on the work initiated last year under the Women's Health Taskforce, €1.39 million has been provided under Budget 2022, which will enable the expansion of the endometriosis service at TUH as well as the establishment of a new service for more complex endometriosis cases at Cork University Maternity Hospital.
