Written answer
Health Services
Under the framework, Kerry women are referred through Cork’s specialist service, while 65 additional staff will expand national endometriosis care; Tralee plans were not specified.
3869. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to providing dedicated endometriosis services at the Women’s Health Hub in Tralee (details supplied); whether there are plans to develop such services at the Hub; the way in which women in County Kerry with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis are currently being supported to access specialist multidisciplinary care under the National Endometriosis Framework. [63219/26]
Comment on this
On 18 October 2025, I launched the National Framework for the Management of Endometriosis. The Framework sets out for the first time in Ireland a defined clinical pathway for women with endometriosis, which spans primary to secondary care to specialist complex care in tertiary settings.
In line with the framework, care is provided across regional specialist centres and supra regional centres to ensure that women are provided with the appropriate level of care for endometriosis.
Regional Specialist Centres for moderate endometriosis cases have been established in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, and University Hospital Limerick, with clinics under further development in University Hospital Galway and the National Maternity Hospital.
Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) is one of two supra-regional specialist centres, along with Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), which have been established for the management of complex cases.
For women referred to a regional specialist endometriosis service, and subsequently determined to have endometriosis at an advanced stage, an onward referral can be made to one of the supra-regional specialist centres in TUH and CUMH.
As Kerry University Hospital is part of the HSE South West Region, its endometriosis referrals would be directed to the specialist endometriosis service in Cork, which also manages moderate cases.
An additional 65 whole-time-equivalent healthcare professionals have been prioritised through the HSE National Service Plan 2026 to expand and fully implement the National Endometriosis Framework. This will include additional consultants, nurse specialists, psychologists, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, medical scientists, health care assistants and administrative staff.
I am committed to expanding specialist endometriosis services, improving support services for women with endometriosis and promoting awareness of endometriosis, both among the public and crucially within our own health services.