Abortion services commence in Laois at Portlaoise hospital

The provision of termination of pregnancy services has commenced at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

Nearly four half years Irish people voted overwhelmingly to repeal the country's Eighth Amendment, overturning the abortion ban, it was announced this month that terminations would commence in  Kilkenny, Portiuncula, Letterkenny, Wexford and Portlaoise. The service commenced on Monday, December 4.

A report carried out on the regulation of termination of pregnancy published earlier this year confirmed that a candidate has been appointed to Portlaoise hospital with a start date agreed. 

The report also highlighted that there were 185 terminations recorded in Laois between 2019 to the end of 2021 where four GP practices provide termination services.

The addition of Portlaoise hospital and the other four units bring the total number of maternity hospitals providing early (under 12 weeks) termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, to seventeen.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced the addition of Portlaoise hospital.

“This expansion is a significant step towards the provision of full termination services for women in all 19 maternity hospitals...I look forward to further expansion of services in 2024 and the reality of safe, equitable access to this service for all women.”

Dr Aoife Mullally, the HSE Clinical Lead for Termination Services, also commented.

“This will enable women to access care in their local units without the additional burden of travel. I acknowledge the leadership of the Clinical Lead Consultants in all maternity units who have worked extremely hard to develop these services and provide high-quality, compassionate care for women. 

"While the majority of early pregnancy abortion care is provided in the community, a hospital-based service is essential for some women and is a valuable support for the community-based service,” she said.

The Department of Health notes that expanded services for termination of pregnancy were introduced on January 1 2019. It said it is Government policy that termination of pregnancy services under the 2018 Act should be provided in all 19 maternity hospitals.

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The Department says that the HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) has advised that all 19 maternity hospitals offer a range of termination of pregnancy services that include:

• Supporting women with any post-termination complications.
• Provision of ultrasound scanning as required.
• Provision of care and supervision in cases where maternal health/life is at risk, and referral to the appropriate tertiary hospital as required.
• Provision of care and supervision for women following a diagnosis of fatal foetal anomaly, including referral to an appropriate tertiary unit.

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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the remaining two hospitals, Cavan and Clonmel, will begin service provision in 2024.