UK government commissions abortion services in Northern Ireland

5 DEC 2022
Irish Legal News
The UK government has formally commissioned abortion services in Northern Ireland after the continued failure of the devolved Department of Health to do so.

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris wrote to the Department following the UK government’s announcement in October that it would step in to ensure that access to safe high-quality abortion and post-abortion care is available.

Continued: https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/uk-government-commissions-abortion-services-in-northern-ireland


Relief and sorrow: Reactions after UK government moves on abortion capacity in Northern Ireland

Campaigners and the Catholic Church have given their reactions after the UK government instructed the NI Department of Health to move ahead with providing abortion services in all Trusts across the north of Ireland.

By Brendan McDaid
Dec 5, 2022

The Department of Health said it “acknowledges the legal requirements placed on it by the Secretary of State and has been working closely with the Northern Ireland Office on the planned commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland.”

The legal instruction on commissioning and the ring fencing of funding will mean that HSC Trusts will have the “necessary resources to ensure a full range of abortion services will be available in NI, including putting in place the necessary staffing and training required” the statement issued said.

Continued: https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/relief-and-sorrow-reactions-after-uk-government-moves-on-abortion-capacity-in-northern-ireland-3941645


New Zealand – With doorstep pill delivery, having an abortion is about to get a whole lot easier

Sylvia Giles
Oct 2, 2022

Next month, access to early medical abortion will massively increase with the roll-out of doorstep delivery service. What does that mean for patients – and for surgical providers?

It’s what people who are pregnant and don’t want to be have wanted “since the beginning of time”, says Dr Janet Downs.

Continued: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/03-10-2022/with-doorstep-pill-delivery-having-an-abortion-is-about-to-get-a-whole-lot-easier


Department of Health does not know when Derry abortion service will resume

Questions have been raised about why the local service collapsed when an Ulster University report shows that medical professionals are willing to provide the service

Garrett Hargan
21 Jun 2021

The Department of Health had said efforts are being made to reinstate an abortion service at Altnagelvin Hospital but it does not know how long it will take.

The Western Trust decided to suspend its Early Medical Abortion Service (EMA) in April ‘until further notice’.

Continued: https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-news/642839/department-of-health-does-not-know-when-derry-abortion-service-will-resume.html


USA – The Anti-Abortion Movement Can’t Use This Myth Anymore

Covid-19 may end up inadvertently speeding up abortion progress in America — and exposing conservative hypocrisy along the way.

May 13, 2021
By Jessica Valenti, New York Times

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration announced that people seeking abortion pills during the Covid-19 pandemic will no longer have to visit a doctor’s office to get a prescription. Under the Trump administration, patients were required to receive the first of the medication’s two doses in person, a mandate upheld by the Supreme Court in January. The new policy instead allows for telemedicine consultations and pills sent by mail.

The decision is a practical one for the Covid era: It reduces unnecessary face time in doctor’s offices, which cuts down the potential for exposure. It could also be a huge blow to the anti-abortion movement. Groups like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have been pushing the Biden administration to make the F.D.A.’s decision permanent. Last week, in a legal filing, the agency announced it was reviewing their restrictions on the medication.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/13/opinion/abortion-pill-fda-covid.html


UK – Using the government consultation on abortion to advocate for women’

11 FEBRUARY, 2021
BY RUTH BAILEY

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on healthcare, and we have all had to respond to this on some level and change the way we practise. There have been few good things to come of this, but the opportunity to change the law in relation to abortion care could be one of them.

We have all had to adapt the way that we deliver services and abortion care is no exception. Abortion is the most common gynaecological procedure and an essential component of sexual and reproductive care.

Continued: https://www.nursingtimes.net/opinion/using-the-government-consultation-on-abortion-to-advocate-for-women-11-02-2021/


N.Ireland – Early abortion service ends in Northern Health trust

Access to abortion services will end in the Northern trust from this Monday

Seanín Graham
03 October, 2020

ABORTION services in one of Northern Ireland's biggest health trusts will stop this Monday due to limited resources.

In a statement to The Irish News, the Northern health trust confirmed access to its Early Medical Abortion (EMA) provision will cease, six months after it was first introduced.

Continued: https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/10/03/news/early-abortion-service-ends-in-northern-health-trust-2086253/


Australia – Improving access to early medical abortion amid COVID-19

Improving access to early medical abortion amid COVID-19

May 28, 2020
Monash University

To mark today’s International Day of Action on Women’s Health (May 28), a newly formed coalition of key stakeholders and clinician experts is advocating rapid policy and practice-based changes to improve the accessibility of early medical abortion (EMA) in Australia during COVID-19 and beyond.

Early medical abortion (EMA), along with contraception, has been declared an essential service during the pandemic but it is not always easy to access. This is particularly the case for highly time-sensitive EMAs that must be undertaken before nine weeks’ gestation in Australia. As a result of the pandemic access may be further challenged by delays in accessing ultrasounds, an inability to travel (especially for women living in remote and regional areas) and cost-barriers including those caused by job losses due to COVID-19.

Continued: https://www.miragenews.com/improving-access-to-early-medical-abortion-amid-covid-19/


IFPA YouTube series to support people who need abortion care during COVID-19

IFPA YouTube series to support people who need abortion care during COVID-19
Videos were created to help those accessing abortion services during the pandemic

Irish Family Planning Association
Published May 7th, 2020

To support people who are experiencing an unintended pregnancy or a pregnancy that has become a crisis during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Irish Family Planning Association has launched a series of videos to assist those who need abortion care.

IFPA COVID-19 abortion care videos
Getting healthcare over the phone is new to most people. The Irish Family Planning Association want those accessing abortion services to be at ease when they speak to the doctor and to be well-prepared and comfortable about managing an abortion at home. To help to do this, they have created additional supports and new information materials.

Continued: https://spunout.ie/news/article/ifpa-youtube-series


UK – What Happens When an Abortion Doesn’t Fully Work

What Happens When an Abortion Doesn't Fully Work
I had an incomplete abortion last year. This is what I wish I'd known about them.

by Rose Stokes
Aug 15 2019

Last year, I had an abortion. My reasons for doing so are deeply personal, painful, and nobody’s business but mine. Once I'd decided to terminate the pregnancy, a woman from British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) asked me over the phone if I wanted a medical abortion—which was still possible at my stage of pregnancy (nine weeks)—or a surgical one. I had no idea.
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“What’s the difference?” I asked.

“Well, one you take a pill and the other is more invasive."

Continued: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7x5pqz/what-is-incomplete-failed-abortion