Ireland’s healthcare system is not working for all women
Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2025
National Women’s Council report shows that Ireland’s healthcare system is leaving some marginalised women behind
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“I still don’t have a GP and it’s been two years in this country.” Migrant woman on GP access.
“Hospitals are not prepared for disabled people…There is no bathroom for disabled people, no beds, no corridors, no lift.” Disabled woman on the accessibility of health services
“The security guard came up to me [in A&E] and was asking me questions, like why I am here... It makes you feel like everyone is staring at you and you have done something wrong.” Roma woman on racism |
Despite significant investment and improvements in women’s healthcare in recent years, minority ethnic and other marginalised women in Ireland – including Traveller, Roma, migrant, disabled, and LGBTQ+ women – continue to face systemic barriers, often leaving them feeling dismissed and excluded from mainstream services.
This is one of the key findings from a new report ‘Our Health, Our Voices’ by the National Women’s Council (NWC) published today (14/10/2025) which highlights the experiences of priority groups of women facing significant health inequalities. Based on targeted listening sessions, the report is part of a collaborative project between the NWC and the Department of Health.
Also released today is another report from this series, led primarily by the Department of Health, which heard from the general public on their experiences of women’s health services, particularly those put in place since the launch of the first Women’s Health Action Plan.
NWC’s ‘Our Health, Our Voices’ report highlights women’s lived experiences of healthcare, focusing on accessibility, quality, and availability of services. Many women welcomed new positive initiatives, such as the Free Contraception Scheme, publicly funded fertility treatment, and the development of menopause clinics. At the same time, women reported persistent barriers to care including:
Financial barriers: Financial inaccessibility was a key theme—participants across all groups shared stories of forgoing treatment, prescriptions, or regular care due to cost. Rigid eligibility rules for medical cards and social protection supports left some women just outside the threshold yet still unable to pay for essential care.
Geography: Women living rurally and disabled women struggled to reach services or found that facilities lacked the equipment, accessibility, or staffing needed to meet their needs.
Racism and discrimination: Many women reported experiencing discrimination based on ethnicity, disability, age, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Language barriers, literacy challenges, and lack of interpretation supports: women described barriers arising due to a lack of local knowledge and social capital, as well as language, literacy, and an emerging digital divide which left them without adequate knowledge or supports to access healthcare services.
Women emphasised the importance of being heard and having their experiences inform the design of a healthcare system that is gender-sensitive, culturally competent and responsive to the needs of all women, including those from diverse backgrounds.
Doireann Crosson, Head of Policy, NWC, said:
“While there have been many really positive advancements in women’s health – including an additional €180 million in funding – we found that these advancements haven’t actually reached all women equally. Marginalised women in Ireland continue to face significant health inequalities and persistent barriers to care. We’re calling on the Department of Health to continue to build on its commitments to listen to and meaningfully engage with women across Ireland – particularly those from marginalised groups and communities.”
Doireann Crosson continued:
“Right now, there is a critical opportunity for change. The next Women’s Health Action Plan should prioritise more targeted, inclusive, and culturally appropriate implementation of healthcare services. To achieve this, the next Plan must also align with other women’s health policies and broader national strategies.
Additionally, collecting equality data – including ethnic data—in line with a human rights approach, would allow for a better understanding of who is using our healthcare services, who is being left out, and how to make access, experience and outcomes equal for all women.”
Salome Mbugua, CEO, AkiDwA, said:
“It is shocking and unacceptable that so many migrant women, including women and families who have lived in Ireland for years, can’t access a GP. Without this crucial link to primary care, migrant women cannot access essential women's health services such as potentially life-saving screening programmes, free contraception, HRT, and others. On top of the GP shortage, migrant women often face other barriers such as language difficulties, lack of culturally competent care, stigma, and limited local knowledge needed to navigate the health system. These challenges are particularly concerning for women who may require urgent and specialised support – for example in cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).”
NWC worked closely with its membership to conduct the 73 listening sessions to inform the report with women across all priority groups. Engagement with the participants of this project took place through a combination of focus groups, in-depth interviews, and a collective event.