Category: Ireland

The Irish Times (Letters)

Sir, – Special adviser, Dr Peter Boylan stated that the new abortion services will be “unrecognisable” in a year’s time from how they will appear on January 1st – the date for implementation set by Minister for Health Simon Harris. (Home News, December 16th). This comment is a cause of deep concern for clinicians who will be working in maternity units on day one and afterwards, when these services are rolled out. . .

. . . we will insist that the HSE and the Department of Health meet their responsibilities and commit to ongoing engagement with clinicians to resource our maternity units to the highest standards. The understandable passion to finally provide abortion care in Ireland should not blind us to the clinical reality of how unprepared we are. . .

Dr. Bridgette Byrne,Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital & RCSI;

Prof. Chris Fitzpatrick, Associate Prof. Mairead Kennelly, Associate Prof. Aisling Martin, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital & UCD;

Dr. Sharon Sheehan,Master/CEO, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital;

Dr. Keelin O’Donoghue, CorkUniversity Maternity Hospital & UCC;

Dr. Noirin Russell, Cork UniversityMaternity Hospital;

Prof. Fionnuala McAuliffe, NationalMaternity Hospital & UCD;

Dr. Peter McParland,National Maternity Hospital;

Dr. Jenny Walsh, National Maternity Hospital

Dr Nandini Ravikumar, Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar;

Ass. Prof. Elizabeth Dunn, Wexford General Hospital & UCD & Dr. Francois Gardeil, Wexford General Hospital.

Irish Independent

Eilish O’Regan

JUST 145 GPs have signed up so far to provide medical abortions from January.

The relatively low number means that some women will have to travel for the service.

Around 39 of these GPs have not agreed to their names being given out to women in crisis who ring up a 24/7 helpline for counselling and direction to the nearest service. . . [Full text]

Service planners understood to be satisfied with GP uptake and geographical spread

The Irish Times

Paul Cullen

GPs in 24 of the 26 counties of the Republic have indicated their willingness to perform medical abortion under the new legislation coming into force on January 1st.

The vast majority of the State’s 19 maternity units, including a majority of smaller units outside Dublin and Cork, have also stated their preparedness to provide surgical abortion in the new year, according to sources. . . [Full text]

Irish Independent

Eilish O’Regan

MORE than 2,500 women may seek a medical abortion from a GP or maternity hospital next year.

The figure is based on the number of early terminations recorded by UK clinics last year among women who travelled from the Republic of Ireland. . . [Full text]