Ireland – Less than 15% of GPs sign up to provide abortion services

Less than 15% of GPs sign up to provide abortion services
Doctors providing new service have overwhemingly positive view

Dec 30, 2019
Paul Cullen, Jennifer Bray

One year after its introduction, the number of women using Ireland’s new abortion service remains a closely-guarded secret.

Official figures will not be published until well into next year, but the estimates from those involved in providing the service have been reduced from an initial 10,000 a year to about 5,000. The vast majority are being performed by GPs prescribing pills in the community.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/less-than-15-of-gps-sign-up-to-provide-abortion-services-1.4127530

UK – Harassment, Tears & Distress: Inside The Battle For Bournemouth’s Abortion Clinic

Harassment, Tears & Distress: Inside The Battle For Bournemouth’s Abortion Clinic

Vicky Spratt, Poppy Thorpe
Last Updated 27 October 2019
Photographed by Poppy Thorpe.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) abortion clinic in Bournemouth is discreet. Set back on a quiet, leafy residential street sandwiched between a busy main road and a primary school, it’s flanked by two up, two down houses. Unless you had a reason to visit you wouldn’t necessarily know it was here.

But as I approach something immediately seems off. There are three women huddled together under a footbridge, sheltering from the rain and staring at the clinic’s front door. On a dull, grey October day, their presence is eerie. As I near them, I realise that they are each holding rosaries and praying, the beads moving steadily through their fingers.

continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/10/8619550/buffer-zones-abortion-clinics-bournemouth

UK – How Our Government Has Betrayed Women Seeking Abortions

How Our Government Has Betrayed Women Seeking Abortions

Vicky Spratt
8 October 2019

All over England and Wales, abortion clinics are being targeted by anti-choice, anti-abortion and, ultimately, anti-women protestors. It often goes unreported and the scenes witnessed by clinic staff, pro-choice activists and service users alike are fraught.

In 2018, Ealing council became the first to implement a no-protest 'buffer zone' around the Marie Stopes West London clinic. That buffer zone prevents anti-abortion protestors from coming within 100 metres of the clinic. The move was hailed as a huge and hopeful step forward for the protection of women seeking abortion services against a backdrop of abuse.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/10/8540490/abortion-buffer-zones-uk-review

Ireland – ‘What happened in relation to Holles Street was pretty disgusting’ – Simon Harris says exclusion zones will be a priority

'What happened in relation to Holles Street was pretty disgusting' - Simon Harris says exclusion zones will be a priority
“We shouldn’t have to change the law to have a basic understanding of decency,” Harris said.

July 11, 2019

EXCLUSION ZONES OUTSIDE hospitals and GP surgeries will be a “major priority” in the new Dáil term, according to Minister for Health Simon Harris.

Exclusion zones are intended to prevent protesters demonstrating within a certain distance of facilities providing abortion care.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/exclusion-zones-around-hospitals-4720345-Jul2019/

11.07.2019

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Ireland – Harris accused of letting abortion protest exclusion zones ‘fall off the agenda’

Harris accused of letting abortion protest exclusion zones 'fall off the agenda'
The group that staged a protest outside the National Maternity Hospital with three small white coffins plans to return this Saturday.

July 10, 2019

MINISTER FOR HEALTH Simon Harris has been accused of letting legislation to introduce protest exclusion zones around maternity hospitals fall off the government’s agenda.

Pro-life protesters staged a demonstration with three white child-size coffins outside the National Maternity Hospital last weekend. This group is planning to return this Saturday.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/exclusion-zones-4718492-Jul2019/

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‘Americanized’ anti-abortion protests are on the rise in the UK. But a fight back has begun

'Americanized' anti-abortion protests are on the rise in the UK. But a fight back has begun

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN
Tue July 9, 2019

London (CNN) Monika Neall was standing outside an abortion clinic in Manchester when she saw a woman in her mid-20s dart out the doors. The woman moved towards a parked car, then suddenly froze.

On the ground nearby lay plastic fetus models, candles and images of mothers gazing adoringly at babies. Panicking, she caught Neall's eye. "That's my car," she said, her voice starting to crack.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/europe/anti-abortion-manchester-protests-uk-gbr-intl/index.html

UK- Police called in after medics attacked by anti abortion campaigners

Police called in after medics attacked by anti abortion campaigners

Laura FitzPatrick
24 FEBRUARY 2019

Police have been called in by medics attacked by pro-life abortion campaigners, as experts warn that social media has made these activists more militant.

It comes ahead of a US-backed campaign that will see vigils held outside 10 UK clinics over the period of lent, for 12 hours a day.

Continued: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/24/police-called-medics-attacked-anti-abortion-campaigners/

Ireland – Explainer: What could Ireland’s abortion exclusion zones look like?

Explainer: What could Ireland's abortion exclusion zones look like?
The government aims to have draft legislation in place by the summer.

Feb 23, 2019

FOLLOWING A SERIES of anti-abortion protests since Ireland’s termination of pregnancy legislation came into effect on 1 January, the issue of exclusion zones around clinics and GP practices has become a pressing issue.

On 3 January, two days after abortion services became legal in the state, a group of pro-life protesters picketed a GP practice in Galway.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/explainer-what-could-irelands-abortion-exclusion-zones-look-like-4501125-Feb2019/

Ireland – Harris told of fear over abortion ‘barriers’ in rural areas

Harris told of fear over abortion 'barriers' in rural areas

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

A “sparse” rural abortion service is forcing pregnant women to travel long distances for a termination, pro-choice groups claim. They also describe the mandatory three-day waiting period for an abortion as “a significant barrier” for rural pregnant women.

The 35 pro-choice groups have written to Health Minister Simon Harris to express their “fear and disappointment” that some women are still unable to access timely abortion care.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/harris-told-of-fear-over-abortion-barriers-in-rural-areas-905375.html

Ireland – Anti-abortion activist launches new website following injunction

Anti-abortion activist launches new website following injunction
Campaigner’s previous site was alleged to be confusingly similar to HSE crisis pregnancy hub

Feb 19, 2019
Jack Horgan-Jones, Sarah Burns

An anti-abortion activist has insisted that a new website he has launched is not covered by a High Court injunction secured against him for a separate site which was alleged to be confusingly similar to the official HSE crisis pregnancy service offering.

The site, myabortionchoices.com, is similar in design and content to another site run by Eamonn Murphy, which was the subject of the injunction sought by the health service last week.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/anti-abortion-activist-launches-new-website-following-injunction-1.3798132