Arklow To Stage Public Meeting On The Plight Of Wicklow Women Impacted By Endometriosis

Following several public meetings driven by Senator Maria McCormack, Wicklow women will share their stories of living with endometriosis at a public meeting in Arklow  

A lack of proper treatment options for the debilitating condition endometriosis will be further highlighted this evening.

A public meeting on the condition will take place at the Arklow Bay Hotel for sufferers and campaigners amid cases of misdiagnosis, lack of care as well as access to proper treatment.

It follows several successful public meetings orchestrated by campaigner Senator Maria McCormack.   

Endometriosis is a chronic, debilitating condition affecting 1 in 10 women here.

Sinn Féin TD for the Wicklow-Wexford Constituency, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, will host the public meeting this evening at 7:30pm.  

Senator Maria McCormack has been leading a national campaign on endometriosis awareness and healthcare reform while Sinn Féin TD Pearse O’Doherty also in attendance to hear from patients with confirmed or suspected endometriosis. 

The event follows several successful public meetings across the country driven by Senator Maria McCormack and party leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, where women came together to share their stories of living with endometriosis.   

Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects 1 in 10 women. The Wicklow-Wexford meeting aims to continue this vital conversation and highlight the lack of proper treatment options in Ireland.   

Speaking ahead of the event, Deputy Ó Súilleabháin said,

“Too many women in Wicklow and Wexford– and indeed across the island – have suffered in silence with endometriosis. Again and again, we are hearing about delayed diagnoses, misdiagnosis, inadequate care, and lack of access to proper treatment”   

“These delays and dismissals are having devastating consequences on patients, their families and their communities. Senator Maria McCormack and I are hosting this meeting to hear from women, learn from their experiences, and demand better from our health system.  We want to support these women’s calls for meaningful change in how the condition is understood, diagnosed and treated”. 

“Over the last number of weeks, we have held public meetings across the state and one thing has been very, very clear - the HSE is not delivering basic healthcare for the many women who are suffering from endometriosis. 

“It is taking an average of 9 years to be diagnosed. Even patients that are extremely ill, are waiting up to six months to be seen. 

 “We are hearing directly from women the length and breadth of the country that have been left in excruciating pain, with many forced to go abroad for specialist care to avoid further damage to vital organs and unnecessary hysterectomies. 

 “It shameful that women are still forced to travel for abroad for basic healthcare. That has to end!” 

Senator Maria McCormack added,

“This campaign is only growing stronger. The women I’ve met are tired – tired of not being listened to, tired of travelling abroad for treatment, and tired of being offered inappropriate care like ablation, chemical menopause, or hysterectomies instead of the gold-standard excision surgery.  

“We need multi-disciplinary teams and regional centres of excellence. Its time women were believed – and given the care they deserve.” 

The meeting is open to the public, and women affected by endometriosis, their families, healthcare professionals, and local representatives are especially encouraged to attend.