Plans progressing for endometriosis hub and publicly funded IVF service in Cork 

Plans are progressing for the introduction of a publicly funded IVF service in Cork in addition to a new supraregional hub for endometriosis.

Dr Mairead O’Riordan, Clinical Director at Cork University Maternity Hospital said that it is envisaged the services will be introduced in 2024/25.

Dr O’Riordan made the comments as the Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate officially opened a new regional health hub which aims to provide improved access to care to women and infants across the region.

Located in the South Ring Business Park and supported by the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the National Women’s and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP), the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) Women and Infants Health Hub recently started accepting patients.

Amongst its services is a new Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU)- a dedicated specialist department that deals with problems in early pregnancy.

The hub is also now home to the physiotherapy department's clinic and will provide treatment and management of various women’s health problems sometimes brought on by pregnancy or other life events, such as menopause.

Improved access to care 

Opening the new facility, Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD said: “I greatly welcome the opening of this new and innovative health hub, which ensures continued and improved access to care for women and infants in this region.

“The support of the National Women and Infants Health Programme and the Health Service Executive (HSE) enables the creation of this state-of-the-art facility, which will transform the services provided to women and infants well into the future.

“We owe a great deal of gratitude to the leadership and multidisciplinary teams at Ireland South Women and Infant’s Directorate for delivering this new model of care, which meets the needs of women and provides timely access to services. May I extend my congratulations and wish everyone involved continued success”.

Professor John R. Higgins, Clinical Director, Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate said that the Directorate has made significant progress and has been an early adopter of implementing a new model of care to provide access to safe, standardised, high-quality care to the women, infants and families within the region.

“I am proud to say that we are successfully building a model that allows women to access a range of hubs for obstetrics and gynaecology services, including menopause care, cervical screening, urogynaecology and now early pregnancy scanning and physiotherapy.

“Working alongside the National Women and Infants Health Programme to develop these services has been a great pleasure, and we look forward to further expansion in the future. Special thanks to our multidisciplinary team across Ireland South, including our GP colleagues, who have come together to provide compassionate, responsive and women-centred care.” 

CUMH services 

Dr Mairead O’ Riordan, Clinical Director, CUMH said that the health hub is one of several services from CUMH which will transform the patient experience.

“In 2024/25, we will introduce a supraregional hub for endometriosis and launch the county’s first publicly funded, publicly provided IVF service. This is an exciting time for women’s health, and I am proud that CUMH is leading the way.”