I, too, was at the same meeting as Deputy Gould. I have been going to political meetings since I was 17 or 18 years of age and I have never left a meeting more shook than I was by that meeting. Some of the stories would make your blood boil and some would break your heart, to hear the accounts of the pain and on top of the pain and suffering, the grief in some instances that some of the women were suffering. The attitude of medical professionals towards them was in some instances dismissive, in others careless and in some others frankly heartless and completely lacking in compassion. They totally dismissed what these women were going through. The Minister and I disagree on a great deal. It seems we disagree on the policy approach. Surely she must accept that something is fundamentally wrong. I apologise. I am sure the Minister is dealing with something important-----

Sentiment score: -0.04

-----but I am a bit distracted, to be totally honest. I want to address the Minister because I am appealing to her. The attitudes that are being encountered are so dismissive. It is not as if members of the medical profession, or a large section of the profession, were unaware or that this is a new disease or condition. It was not as if there was no knowledge of the best kind of treatment. The Minister has spoken forcefully in the past about us exporting issues relating to women's health. That is what is happening here. I know of instances where women have struggled to get the money they have expended back. That has been a difficulty. The attitude that is there needs to be addressed but there is also a systemic issue. What these women are facing is simply not good enough. There are differences of opinion in terms of approach, but I urge the Minister to take this on as a key priority because what is happening is absolutely shocking.

Sentiment score: -0.08