3190. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the status of the programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of free pelvic floor physical therapy sessions for women after childbirth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55180/26]

This Government is committed to further transforming women’s healthcare. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the introduction of free pelvic floor physical therapy sessions for women after childbirth.

The first Women’s Health Action Plan was published by the then Minister for Health in March 2022, presenting a vision for the future of women’s health in Ireland. The current Women’s Health Action Plan 2026-27 identifies a number of actions relating to the provision of gynaecological care, including delivering additional “see and treat” Ambulatory Gynaecology Clinics and expanding the national network of Postnatal Hubs.

Funding has been provided to expand the existing Pelvic Floor Services in St Michael’s Hospital, Dun Laoghaire - Ireland’s first multidisciplinary clinic for the assessment and management of pelvic floor dysfunction. This service was initially established in 2013 and is the referral centre for its surrounding catchment areas for women presenting to GPs who have pelvic issues. It also provides a specialised multidisciplinary service with women from other regions of the country who have more complex, advanced pelvic issues.

The Service is a collaboration between the National Maternity Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital and St Michael’s Hospital and is provided by a multidisciplinary team comprising expertise in the areas of colorectal surgery, urogynaecology, pelvic floor specialist nursing and clinical specialist physiotherapy.

As part of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care, a Framework for the implementation of physiotherapy-led gynaecology care pathway has been developed. This physiotherapy-led care pathway enables women to be both directly triaged to clinical specialist physiotherapy for direct management as clinically appropriate, or triaged directly for management by the medical team with input and support from the clinical specialist physiotherapy service.

There are currently 19 “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics open and more in development.  These clinics are having a direct impact on gynaecology waiting lists and times.

Women identified the improvement of postnatal care as a priority in the National Maternity Experience Survey, first run in 2020. The development of community maternity services, including Postnatal Hubs, is helping to address this need, with the provision of physiotherapy services a key consideration.

Significant investment has been directed into piloting and establishing a national network of Postnatal Hubs that provide essential care for women in the community, including physiotherapy, in the weeks after birth. Five Postnatal Hubs were open in Cork, Kerry, Portiuncula, Sligo and Carlow-Kilkenny by the end of 2023.  Four more Postnatal Hubs were formally launched last February. These hubs are located at the three Dublin maternity hospitals and Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda. Four further Hubs are currently in development in Waterford, Limerick, Cavan and Letterkenny and should be in place by the end of the year. This will bring the national network to 13 out of 19 maternity units/hospitals.

The Department is continuing to work with the HSE to drive further expansion and provision of free postnatal physiotherapy.