A Women's Health Taskforce was established by the Department of Health to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare in September 2019. The Taskforce was established to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare, building on recent progress in women’s health, and following a recommendation from the Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme that women’s health issues be given more consistent, expert and committed attention.
The Taskforce provided an opportunity to draw existing and new initiatives together into a coherent women’s health programme. The Taskforce is also a forum for advancing departmental commitments under the National Strategy for Women and Girls led by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Taskforce has modelled “open policy making” working in a collaborative way, involving policy makers, clinicians, international partners, advocates, health experts and the voices of women through workshops, research and outreach.
The Taskforce has listened to, engaged with and worked with more than 2,000 individuals and organisations representing women across the country.
These inputs have informed the Women's Health Action Plan 2022 – 2023.
The Taskforce is chaired by the Director of the European Institute for Women’s Health (EIWH), Peggy Maguire, with more than 30 members from all grades and divisions within the Department of Health
Membership includes:
- HSE through the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP)
- DCEDIY as lead department for the National Strategy for Women and Girls
- Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP)
- Institute of Public Health (IPH)
- Advocacy voice of the National Women’s Council (NWC)
- National Traveller Women's Forum
- Spunout.ie
- Merchant's Quay
- The Deep End
The Taskforce conducted a Radical Listening exercise to hear the voices of women about their health, to understand their perspectives on health and wellbeing, how those perspectives were shaped, and to understand the forces that shape health outcomes for women.
Led by independent researchers, over 270 women participated in these discussions from all over Ireland. Women highlight some really positive experiences but also important issues that they want to see improved in particular around information, respect, and access.
Areport of the ‘radical listening’ exercise was published on Tuesday 14 September.
A supplementary report looking at the experiences of marginalised women highlighted additional issues.
Budget 2021 has provided a dedicated multi-annual €5 million Women’s Health Fund to implement a programme of actions arising from the work of the Taskforce. Priority programmes for women’s health are reviewed and regularly updated as part of an action planning process. Funded activity to date includes a specialist menopause clinic in the National Maternity Hospital, two ambulatory gynaecology clinics, and enhanced service provision in areas like endometriosis, perinatal mental health and specialist centre for paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services.
Budget 2022 committed to invest an additional €5 million into the Women’s Health Fund to fund innovative new approaches to women’s health services nationwide. This provides the foundation for a fully funded action programme on Women’s Health in 2022. Informed by the available evidence and engagement with women across the country, key stakeholders, clinicians, and advocates for women’s health, the action plan outlines measures needed to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health in outcomes in Ireland.
The Taskforce aims to be open, inclusive and transparent at every stage of its work.
We asked you for your views on how girls' and women's health can be improved. Thanks for sending us more than 500 responses. A summary has been shared with the Taskforce and is provided below:
Each week the Taskforce will invite a range of experts to present to the Taskforce.
This forum has allowed us to hear evidence, experience and ideas from experts and advocates to help us achieve our goal. The forum has enabled discussion and debate to broaden our perspectives and insight into issues of importance to women’s health. Presenters have shared information and ideas on issues as diverse as endometriosis, women ageing with a disability and addiction services.
If you have research, evidence or perspectives on aspects of women’s health which you would be willing to share please email your name, address, and a short description of your work to womenshealthtaskforce@health.gov.ie
We will keep you updated on developments on our social channels (@RoinnSlainte) and on this webpage.
Follow #womenshealthIRL on all social channels for regular updates by all taskforce members.
Regular reports from the Taskforce will be available below.
EU Manifesto for Women's Health
- email: Womenshealthtaskforce@health.gov.ie
- social media: #womenshealthIRL