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Abortion Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (435)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

435. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the changes made to the model of care for termination of pregnancy in the context of the Covid-19 public health emergency; if access to abortion care in early pregnancy has been negatively impacted by the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11910/20]

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Written answers

As part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and limit the spread of COVID-19, the Department of Health and the HSE worked together to put new arrangements in place to temporarily allow termination of pregnancy services in early pregnancy to be provided remotely.

For the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, where the need for social distancing, reducing personal contacts and reducing the burden on medical practitioners are paramount, it will be possible for a woman to access a termination under section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (i.e. before 12 weeks) from her medical practitioner by telephone or video conference consultation.

These new arrangements have been in place since early April to ensure that access to termination of pregnancy services would not be negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The arrangement enabling remote consultation will lapse once the public health emergency is declared over, and the normal functioning and requirements of the original Model of Care for early pregnancy will resume (i.e., visits to medical practitioners).

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