108. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Health for an update regarding the work her Department has undertaken to improve access to care for people living with lipoedema. [47296/26]

Sentiment score: 0.24

I take this opportunity to raise awareness about lipoedema. As Deputy Sherlock said, one in 11 women or girls has it. That is one member of your camogie or football team or two in your leaving certificate class, at least. That is how significant this is. I know the Minister is a huge advocate for women's healthcare. I joined her yesterday in Tallaght hospital for the national women's strategy. We really need to see a strategy and path forward for how we will raise awareness among the public and medical professionals, specifically for early diagnosis, which is so important for early treatment and in preventing this condition from becoming a more severe chronic disease. There are also psychological issues associated with chronic disease, in particular one like lipoedema, which is a physically debilitating and visual disease that women and young girls in particular are very sensitive to.

Sentiment score: 0.14