Only 70 women approved for endometriosis surgery abroad in first year of new scheme

More than 220 women have contacted the scheme with queries; 93 completed applications, 70 were approved to travel for surgery; and 12 applications are in progress.

Only 70 women were approved for endometriosis surgery abroad in almost one year of a new scheme, it has emerged.

Endo Ireland has criticised the “frustrating” barriers to treatment for the debilitating condition, with which one on seven women and girls live. 

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill launched the scheme last October with a new framework for care. 

More than 220 women have contacted the scheme with queries; 93 completed applications, 70 were approved to travel for surgery; and 12 applications are in progress.

So far, women have mainly travelled to the UK and France. Costs vary depending on options chosen, the HSE said. 

Women have questioned why an approved list of centres contains some public UK centres which already have long waiting lists. 

“A review of the full list of services is currently in progress,” the HSE said on Monday. 

Centres are included based on assessment against the scheme’s criteria.

“It should not be interpreted as confirmation of a formal arrangement between the HSE and each individual service, or as a guarantee that a particular service will have capacity to accept an Irish referral at all times,” a spokesperson said.

The HSE also said "there is no end date" for the interim scheme as change continues in Irish hospitals. 

Recruitment is not yet complete for the 65.5 full-time equivalent posts funded last year for Irish hospitals, including Cork University Maternity Hospital. 

Endo Ireland chairman Damien Donoghue said: “There’s a disconnect between the new framework, the guidelines, and the community. They are not common knowledge.

“We’re hearing that daily. Doctors are not aware of the schemes, they are hesitant to refer women to different jurisdictions because they’re worried about the care.” 

He called for “due diligence” on clinics and for GPs to be included in referral pathways as well as consultants. 

“Women are waiting for consultants,” he said. 

“This is the barrier, I know women waiting months and months and months to get a doctor to sign off on it.” 

Feedback they receive remains concerning, he added.

“We have women in the depths of despair, depression, because we’re not giving them the right care and it’s avoidable. We should be ashamed of ourselves.”

"We are moving in the right direction. There are small positives but there are some quick wins available here."