Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
608. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to list the maternity units currently providing abortion services under Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, in tabular form; to list the units expected to begin this service by the end of 2023; when the remaining maternity units will commence this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50017/23]
View answerIt is Government policy that termination of pregnancy services under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 should be provided in all 19 maternity hospitals.
Currently 12 of the 19 maternity hospitals are providing termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act, which includes termination in early pregnancy (i.e. under 12 weeks) as follows:
• National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street
• Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital
• Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar
• Rotunda Hospital
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
• University Hospital Galway
• Mayo University Hospital
• University Maternity Hospital Limerick
• Cork University Maternity Hospital
• University Hospital, Kerry
• University Hospital, Waterford
• Sligo University Hospital
The hospitals that provide services are listed on the HSE website: (www2.hse.ie/conditions/abortion/how-to-get/in-hospital/)
The HSE has advised that all maternity hospitals/units also offer a range of support services for the termination of pregnancy, including:
• Supporting women with any post termination complications
• Provision of ultrasound scanning, where required, and
• Management of Fatal Foetal Anomaly cases.
The HSE continues to engage with the seven remaining maternity hospitals to enable the provision of services by year end 2023.
In some hospitals the service is dependent on the recruitment of additional consultant obstetrician gynaecologists. This recruitment is progressing, as is the establishment of the appropriate referral and care pathways within those hospitals.
Termination services in early pregnancy are also provided through GPs and Women’s Health Service Contractors in the community sector, ensuring a national geographic spread and the availability of the service in all counties.
