‘Rushed’ introduction of abortion services is unsafe and unacceptable say GPs

National Association of GPs says it will not be threatened or intimidated by Minister

The Irish Times

Martin Wall

Family doctors believe the “rushed manner” in which abortion services are being introduced by the Government is “unacceptable and unsafe”, the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) has said.

It said it objected to pressure being placed on frontline staff “to get some sort of service in place by January, purely to protect the Minister for Health’s political reputation”.

NAGP president Dr Maitiu O’ Tuathail said GPs would “not be threatened or intimidated by Minister Harris”. . . [Full text]

CEO of the ICGP Fintan Foy on the College’s recent EGM

Irish Medical Times

Fintan Foy

December 2, 2018 was a significant date in the history of the College for many reasons, when 310 members of the College attended an Extraordinary General Meeting convened by the College Board. This article provides an explanation on the background to the meeting and why the EGM as originally requested was not held.

I also describe the journey the College has been on since the Referendum result on the May 25, 2018. . .[Full text]

‘Growing number’ of GPs sign up for abortion service

Irish Independent

Eilish O’Regan

The HSE is getting a “steady return” of contracts from GPs applying to provide a medical abortion service from January, it was claimed yesterday.

A HSE spokeswoman said the “number is increasing on a daily basis”.

It is still unclear how many GPs will be ready to deliver the service from the start of next month, but potentially several hundred may have signed up. . . [Full text]

‘We will offer terminations for fatal defects from January’ – Holles St chief

Irish Independent

Eilish O’Regan

WOMEN whose unborn babies have fatal abnormalities will be able to get abortions from January at the National Maternity Hospital.

The hospital’s master, Dr Rhona Mahony, made the pledge as it emerged that some maternity hospitals and GPs will not be ready to begin the extension of abortions services from that date. . . [Full text]

Maternity hospital governance ‘will be resolved when it’s resolved’ – Taoiseach

Varadkar says law enacted by Oireachtas will apply, ‘not Canon or any other law’

The Irish Times

Marie O’Halloran, Martin Wall

The controversy over the governance and ownership of the new national maternity hospital when it moves from Dublin’s Holles Street to a site at the St Vincent’s hospital campus “will be resolved when it is resolved”, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that Minister for Health Simon Harris was still engaging with the existing National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street and the St Vincent’s Hospital Group to get it right “but we are confident that we can get there”. . . [Full text]