merrion street

Minister Reilly at the announcement of the scheme at Government Buildings earlier.

The Government today announced the establishment of an ex-gratia scheme for women who underwent the procedure of symphysiotomy.

In recognising the pain and suffering that many of the women who underwent this procedure suffered, the Government hopes that the ex-gratia scheme, which will allow women to accept an award of between €50,000 and €150,000, thereby relieving them of the burden of pursuing their case through the courts, will help to draw a line under the issue for those affected.

To date, in a very small number of cases, insurers of the hospitals and the obstetricians who carried out the procedures have been found liable by the courts. However, Government recognises that the women affected are of advanced years, that such court cases can take a long time to come to a conclusion, and that not all women will want to pursue what can be a difficult case through the courts.

The Government profoundly regrets the serious and damaging effects symphysiotomy has had on many of the women and their families and hopes that today’s announcement of an ex-gratia scheme, together with a commitment to continue providing health and social care supports, including access to a Medical Card, will finally help to bring closure for them.    

By today’s standards symphysiotomy would not be indicated.  Evidence shows that for some women, the procedure resulted in chronic pain and limited mobility, incontinence, neck and back problems and also psychological problems.

In the case of symphysiotomy carried out after the baby had been delivered by caesarean section, Government supports the Supreme Court’s position that the procedure was indefensible and wrong. This Government strongly condemns this practice, which was not in keeping with best practice at any time.

This Government has acknowledged the pain and suffering which the procedure caused to many of the women who underwent symphysiotomy, and does so again today. Some women have been left with medical problems, as well as psychological problems in relating to their partners and reestablishing normal sexual relations following the procedure.

For many women, today’s decision comes after a very long wait; previous administrations chose not to act to bring closure to the women and their families.  However, this Government has recognised the importance of this issue, and today's decision represents an honest intention to try and bring a resolution to this matter.

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