Health minister launches new endometriosis centre in Cork

A Cork hospital is set “deliver a new model of care” for endometriosis patients following the official opening by health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill yesterday of a new facility dedicated to treatment of the condition.

The HSE Supra-Regional Endometriosis Centre, located at the Lee Clinic and operated by the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), will improve access to care for women with advanced endometriosis across the region. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of it, a condition which affects approximately one in 10 women globally.

Speaking at the opening of the facility, Ms Carroll MacNeill said the specialist centre, which is already receiving patients, represents an important step forward in ensuring that women with advanced endometriosis receive the expert multidisciplinary treatment, and comprehensive support that they need.

“I have spoken with so many women who have struggled with endometriosis, with delayed diagnosis and difficulty in obtaining appropriate, ongoing treatment,” she said.

“This facility in Cork will help deliver a new model of care, one that meets the complex needs of women with endometriosis, while providing timely, equitable access to essential services for women living with this condition.

“My hope is that this state-of-the-art facility will continue to bridge the gap in healthcare for those suffering with endometriosis.”

Developed by the HSE and the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme, this centre aligns with the National Endometriosis Framework.

The framework outlines, for the first time, a defined clinical care pathway for women with endometriosis in Ireland, together with another supra-regional clinic in Tallaght University Hospital.

Mairead O’Riordan, consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist, and clinical director at the CUMH, said endometriosis can severely impact quality of life.

“Yet for many, the path to a correct diagnosis and effective treatment is a long and difficult journey,” she said. “This centre should change that, offering not just expert care, but hope for better management of the condition.

“We are very grateful to the [programme] and HSE for their continued support.”

The Government has invested more than €5m to fund staffing across endometriosis services since 2021, including €2.175m to expand services this year, with a further €1.7m invested in endometriosis services in Cork since 2022.

Dr O’Riordan said: “Thank you to the Government for its ongoing commitment to women’s health. The launch of the centre is a significant step toward improving access to specialised healthcare and addressing the long-standing gaps in endometriosis care.

“This is an exciting time for women’s health, and I am proud that CUMH is leading the way.”