'More needs to be done' for endometriosis patients, says health minister

President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dr Diarmuid O'Shea looks on as minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill speaks to the media ahead of addressing the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Annual Spring Meeting, at the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

The health minister has acknowledged “more needs to be done” for endometriosis patients as she pledged to bring surgeons from abroad to work here, as well as providing additional funding.

Cork University Maternity Hospital is one of the sites receiving funding as it hosts a supra-regional endometriosis centre — the only one outside Dublin.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill attended the Royal College of Physicians Ireland seminar on endometriosis in Dublin on Friday.

Asked if support includes bringing surgeons to work here temporarily, she said: “100%, I’m open to suggestions on that from the clinical community from any hospital entirely.

“Cork has a new colorectal consultant ,and they’re working now in partnership with the other teams. That is really important.”

Nationally, there are 65 new posts now funded, she added, including 12 for various types of consultants.

“I hope they will be in situ by the end of the year,” she said, noting it is a competitive field globally.

Funding has seen HSE clinicians go to endometriosis centres in Denmark and other EU countries for specialist training, the conference heard.

A panel discussion focused on surgical options, including ablation and excision. 

Ablation is widely used internationally to treat superficial or mild endometriosis.

However, concerns have been raised by women that it was also used in Ireland for more severe conditions.

Dr Cathy Burke, clinical lead at the Cork centre, said it is an evidence-based treatment for superficial endometriosis but “not effective” for deeply invasive conditions.

“I think what is an issue is the repeated performing of surgeries [on women] that are giving minimal to no benefit and expecting a different outcome,” she said.

There are limitations, she said.

"We really have to acknowledge those limitations and then work forward in terms of what we can do next.” 

Other treatments should be considered, she indicated, rather than repeating the same surgeries.

Colorectal surgeon Cillian Clancy from Tallaght University Hospital also spoke. 

This hosts the first supra-regional centre. 

Funding has seen HSE clinicians go to endometriosis centres in Denmark and other EU countries for specialist training, the conference heard. File picture

He said trainees in this speciality are now aware that their skills can help women with endometriosis. 

Until recently, this was not widely known, he explained.

Dr Ciara McCarthy, a GP working in Cork and clinical lead in women's health at the Irish College of GPs, spoke about the new framework for care. This launched in October.

“Introducing the possible diagnosis of endometriosis early enables open conversation,” she said.

She welcomed improved access to scans for GP patients, but noted some types of MRI are not included.

However, she said there is still “need for expansion of community services”, including access to specialist physiotherapists.

“We have almost no access,” she said, saying this is key for pain management, among other challenges.

“It would be transformative,” she said.