Ireland – Holohan moves to address concerns about 12-week abortion limit

Holohan moves to address concerns about 12-week abortion limit
Doctors fearful of criminalisation as women present at 11 weeks’ gestation

Mon, Jan 28, 2019
Jennifer Bray

The chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, has moved to address concerns about doctors performing terminations beyond the 12-week legal limit.

Abortion up until 12 weeks’ gestation became legal at the start of the month, but concerns have been raised that women who present at 11 weeks’ gestation may take more than a week to complete the procedure.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/holohan-moves-to-address-concerns-about-12-week-abortion-limit-1.3772460

Abortion in Ireland: Four weeks in, how’s it working?

Abortion in Ireland: Four weeks in, how’s it working?
Abortion has been legal in Ireland for almost a month, yet uncertainties and problems persist

Jan 26, 2019
Jennifer Bray

Next week will mark one month since the introduction of general abortion services for the first time in the history of the Irish State. In the final weeks of 2018, there were dire warnings from senior medics and family doctors that the January 1st deadline was being “rushed” and was “dangerously unrealistic”.

Only nine maternity hospitals were ready to provide full access to abortion care, with the remaining 10 expected to come on board shortly. Some 240 general practitioners have now signed up to the service. Despite the less than comprehensive level of access, abortions are now happening across the country in hospitals and in general practices.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/abortion-in-ireland-four-weeks-in-how-s-it-working-1.3770442

Ireland – Foetal anomaly cases require ‘teams of doctors’

Foetal anomaly cases require ‘teams of doctors’
Guidelines indicate foetal medicine specialist should be involved once a diagnosis is made

Tue, Jan 22, 2019
Paul Cullen

Decisions on whether or not to provide terminations in cases of foetal anomaly should be reached by multidisciplinary teams of doctors on a consensus basis, newly prepared guidelines indicate.

The multidisciplinary team (MDT) should be a formally-constituted committee of the hospital whose decisions are documented in clinical notes, according to the guidelines from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/foetal-anomaly-cases-require-teams-of-doctors-1.3765920

22.01.2019

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Ireland – Call for national coordinator sought to oversee abortion services

Call for national coordinator sought to oversee abortion services

Thursday, 10 Jan 2019

The Chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has said members would like to see a national coordinator appointed in the Health Service Executive to oversee the country's abortion services.

The institute held an Extraordinary General Meeting last night to discuss a motion regarding risk to safety of patients due to inadequate preparation regarding the implementation of abortion services.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/0110/1022335-abortion-services-co-ordinator/

10.01.2019

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Ireland – New abortion service will take time to fully implement – Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

New abortion service will take time to fully implement - Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Wednesday, 9 Jan 2019
By Fergal Bowers, Health Correspondent

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (IOG) has said that the new termination of pregnancy service is still evolving and will take time to fully implement.

The institute issued a statement following an extraordinary general meeting involving 20 members at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2019/0109/1022212-abortion-services/

09.01.2019

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Concerns as Irish abortion services start

Concerns as Irish abortion services start

By Leanna Byrne BBC News NI
3 January 2019

Seven months and nine days ago, 1.4 million people in Ireland voted to remove its anti-abortion laws.

What (Taoiseach) Irish PM Leo Varadkar called a "quiet revolution", had culminated with a day when the Eighth Amendment was repealed.

Irish Health Minister Simon Harris hailed the passing of the legislation as a "new era for Irish women".

continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46737593

Ireland – Abortion guidelines for girls under 15 cause unease among doctors

Abortion guidelines for girls under 15 cause unease among doctors
Access to services without parental consent to be had in ‘exceptional circumstances’

Dec 23, 2018
Paul Cullen

Girls aged 15 and under will be able to get an abortion without the involvement of their parents or another adult “in exceptional circumstances”, according to the Health Service Executive guides to the termination of pregnancies.

A doctor offering the abortion to the young woman who chooses not to involve an adult is required to complete an assessment, the as-yet-unpublished guides state.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/abortion-guidelines-for-girls-under-15-cause-unease-among-doctors-1.3741095

Ireland – Clinical guidelines on abortion services to be published

Clinical guidelines on abortion services to be published
Training for GPs and gynaecologists ahead of introduction of services in January

Dec 16, 2018
Harry McGee, Elaine Edwards

Clinical guidelines on the provision of abortion services in the State will be published by two key medical bodies on Monday ahead of the introduction of the service in the new year.

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), will circulate guidelines to all their members as part of the preparations.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/clinical-guidelines-on-abortion-services-to-be-published-1.3733327

Ireland – Master of Coombe says hospital not ready to provide abortion services

Master of Coombe says hospital not ready to provide abortion services

Tuesday, 11 Dec 2018

The Coombe Hospital will not be ready to provide abortion services by the start of January, according to the Master of the hospital, Dr Sharon Sheehan.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Dr Sheehan said she would advise Minister for Health Simon Harris to delay the introduction of services until February or March.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2018/1211/1016557-abortion/

Ireland – Boylan warns against delay to abortion introduction

Boylan warns against delay to abortion introduction

Friday, 7 Dec 2018

The number of people seeking abortion services in Irish hospitals once they are introduced is "not going to be huge," according to the clinical adviser to the HSE's National Women and Infants Programme.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Dr Peter Boylan said he understood medical colleagues had "genuine concerns" about the introduction of such services, but said he felt "they are more around the area of change".

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2018/1207/1015814-abortion/