Mary Lou McDonald calls on the Government to improve endometriosis care in Ireland

Mary Lou McDonald said we need urgent action when it comes to endometriosis care

She has called on the Minister of Health to act as thousands of Irish women continue to travel abroad for endometriosis treatment.

McDonald said that the belated acceptance from Health Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill that women are being forced to go abroad for endometriosis treatment needs to be followed by the speedy delivery of specialist services in Ireland.

"This is a condition that affects one in ten women, and the failure to support them, many of whom suffer in agonising pain, is an indictment of Fine Gael after 14 years in power.”

Ms McDonald made her comments following the release of figures which show that 747 women are waiting for endometriosis surgery, with 175 of these women waiting between three and six months.

The Sinn Féin Leader said the Minister for Health should take this issue more seriously.

"Huge hurt was caused by the Minister’s comments during the debate of Sinn Féin’s motion in July, when she suggested that women were choosing to avail of private treatment abroad. The truth is, women are forced to seek care in other countries because the services and staff needed are not in place in Ireland."

McDonald said Fine Gael has been in government for 14 years and has failed to improve endometriosis care.

"Here we are in 2025 and women are crying out for proper care for an agonising condition that affects one in ten."

“As recently as July, Minister MacNeill had an opportunity to make a real difference when Sinn Féin brought a motion to the Dáil proposing that the government establish a treatment centre with a full multi-disciplinary team, funding for excision surgery, improved imaging, and the fast-tracking of referrals."

McDonald stressed that we need a multi-disciplinary centre for the treatment of endometriosis here in Ireland.

She stressed that women deserve gold standard endometriosis care.

"Such a service would ensure that women are diagnosed quickly and early and get the medical interventions they desperately need, including specialist excision surgery where required.

"This should be funded, staffed, and resourced to a world-class level," she added.

"It’s disgraceful that women and girls living in agony are forced to accept inadequate treatment here at home or forced abroad to get the care they need.

She said women suffering from endometriosis need her to act now.

"They need her to act. They need her to deliver access to gold-standard endometriosis treatment, services, and care here in Ireland and to do that with urgency.”