The Powerful Voice of 221+: Advocating for Women’s Healthcare in Ireland
The year was 2018, and the CervicalCheck scandal shook Ireland to its core. In the midst of it all, Vicky Phelan refused to remain silent. Her bravery inspired the formation of 221+, a campaign group dedicated to ensuring that the patient’s voice remains at the heart of women’s care.
From its inception, 221+ aimed not only to support the women affected by CervicalCheck but also to improve the Irish healthcare system for all women, present and future. The “+”, an integral part of the group’s name, acknowledged the possibility of additional challenges beyond what was initially known. Little did we realize just how prescient that decision would be.
Over the past five years, we have learned that similar incidents could occur again, not limited to CervicalCheck but across various healthcare settings. While our health service has made notable advancements with better science, cutting-edge technology, and dedicated healthcare professionals, there remains a significant risk of failure. Emotional and specific needs of patients, especially women, are often overlooked or dismissed.
Woman-centered healthcare is distinctive and deserves unique attention. We must draw lessons from past failures in CervicalCheck, blood transfusion, and symphysiotomy to inform how healthcare administration in Ireland approaches this crucial difference. As the year 2023 approaches and politicians gear up for an election, they have an opportunity to address this issue and prioritize women’s healthcare needs.
The groundwork for a significant shift in delivering superior healthcare services to women has already been laid. Last year, the Women’s Health Task Force outlined essential steps centered around the pillars of “Listen, Invest, and Deliver.” Listening, as the first step, holds immense importance. Achieving excellence in healthcare goes beyond the mere science and technology aspects. It encompasses how patients feel and perceive the care they receive—ultimately, it’s about putting the patient first.
From personal experience, both as a patient representative for 221+ and in my professional background in customer service, I have seldom encountered such condescension and disregard as I have in the last two years. Unfortunately, I know I’m not alone in this experience within the Irish health system.
As we celebrate five years since the formation of 221+, our work is only just commencing. We have found our voice due to necessity. Our collective experiences validate the need for separate and specialized women’s health services shaped not only by health planners but also by the very women they serve. Leaving this crucial task solely to politicians and civil servants, for whom enhancing women’s health services may be just another checkbox, is inadequate.
If we truly desire to accomplish this work properly, patients must have a seat at the table alongside healthcare providers. While it may not be an easy task, past years have shown that mutual dedication to doing what’s right can foster collaboration between patient representatives and medical authorities, such as the National Screening Service.
The birth of 221+ garnered considerable attention from politicians and media. It became evident that without dedicated patient representation, little progress would be made, and the story would fade away. Today, politicians have an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution by supporting an evidence-based health service that explicitly caters to the specialized needs of women, ensuring their voices are heard.
As members of 221+, we cannot claim that this transformation is imminent or that our presence will become unnecessary in another five years. This is a lifelong commitment for us. Together, let us continue advocating for the rights and wellbeing of women in healthcare.
Lyn Fenton
Member, 221+ Steering Group
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