David Cullinane
Question:613. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health whether implementing the recommendations of the independent termination of pregnancy review is a priority for him. [18633/24]
View answerTuesday, 30 April 2024
Questions (613)
Written answers
The Independent Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 made a range of recommendations most of which are operational in nature.
The final Report of the Review made a number of recommendations in relation to increasing access to services.
The Government asked the HSE to establish an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations. An action plan for the implementation of the recommendations has been developed. Ten work-streams have been identified, they are as follows:
Early Pregnancy Ultrasound
Section 12-Early Pregnancy TOP
Surgical TOP and MVA
Audit & Data Collection
Education & Training
Foetal Medicine Protocols
National Prenatal Screening Programme
Maternal Health - Section 9
HSE Workplace Policies
Leadership Models
Significant progress has already been made in this regard, for instance six additional hospitals started providing termination services in 2023, an increase of 55%.
Increased service provision is largely down to the huge increase in funding for women’s healthcare under this government, as well as the dedicated work of our healthcare leads.
Termination services in early pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) are currently provided in 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals, with the remaining two expected to come onboard in 2024.
There has also been a small but sustained increase in community providers, approximately an additional 20 in the last 12 months alone.
Furthermore, the revised model of care introduced in response to the Covid pandemic has been approved as the enduring model of care. Under this blended approach, it is possible for one of the two consultations required for termination in early pregnancy to take place remotely. This will alleviate the time and expense involved in travelling to the doctor’s surgery twice.
The cumulative effect of these measures, now in place, will substantially reduce barriers and increase access to services for those who need it.
Safe Access Zones legislation is at an advanced stage in its progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas, with Report Stage in the Seanad scheduled for 1st May.
The proposals recommending legislative changes were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration. Further consideration of this issue will take place at the Cabinet Committee on Health