Louise O'Reilly
Question:89. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the hospitals in which abortion care is available; the hospitals in which it is unavailable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27660/19]
View answerTuesday, 2 July 2019
Questions (89)
Written answers
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 December 2018 and signed into law by the President on 20 December 2018.
Services for termination of pregnancy have been available since 1 January 2019.
Additional resources have been allocated to provide for termination of pregnancy services this year. In total €12 million was allocated in the budget for the provision of termination of pregnancy services in 2019.
I have made it clear to the HSE that termination of pregnancy services, under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, should be provided in all nineteen maternity hospitals.
All hospitals are providing terminations in emergency situations (when a woman’s life or health is at risk). Terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality are, generally, available in the larger tertiary hospitals, as in such cases particular expertise, only available in those hospitals, may be required.
Terminations up to 12 weeks of pregnancy are currently being provided in 10 maternity hospitals/units in the following Hospital Groups:
Ireland East Hospital Group
1. National Maternity Hospital - Holles Street
2. Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar
RCSI Hospital Group
3. Rotunda Hospital
4. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda
Dublin Midlands Hospital Group
5. Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
Saolta Hospital Group
6. University Hospital Galway
7. Mayo University Hospital
University of Limerick Hospitals
8. University Maternity Hospital Limerick
South/South West Hospital Group
9. Cork University Maternity Hospital
10. University Hospital Waterford
There is regular ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to facilitate the smooth running of the service and to resolve any issues that may arise.
The HSE has advised that additional maternity units are expected to begin providing termination of pregnancy services in the coming months.