VOLUME 7 -
ISSUE 3 June 2009
Number of Women Giving Irish Addresses at UK Abortion Clinics Decreases for Seventh Year in a Row According to Department of Health UK
Figures recently issued by the UK Department of Health, showing that there has, for the seventh successive year, been a decrease in the number of women giving Irish addresses at UK abortion clinics. This is a continuation of a very gradual downward trend in the number of women giving Republic of Ireland addresses to abortion clinics in the UK since 2001.
Number of women giving Irish addresses at UK abortion clinics Rate per thousand women 15-44 years:
| | Number of women giving Irish
addresses at UK abortion clinics |
Rate per thousand
women 15-44 years |
| 2001 | 6,673 |
7.5 |
| 2002 | 6,522 |
7.2 |
| 2003 | 6,320 |
6.9 |
| 2004 | 6,217 |
6.7 |
| 2005 | 5,585 |
5.9 |
| 2006 | 5,042 |
5.2 |
| 2007 | 4,686 |
4.7 |
| 2008 | 4,600 |
4.5 |
Since 2001, the number of women giving Irish addresses at UK abortion clinics has decreased by 2,073. The abortion rate (number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44) has fallen from 7.5 in 2001 to 4.5 in 2008.
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has been gathering statistics to examine the patterns of women travelling from Ireland to countries other than the UK for abortion procedures. The Netherlands has emerged as the only other jurisdiction to which women from Ireland are travelling for abortion procedures in significant numbers. The number of women giving Irish addresses at abortion clinics in the Netherlands decreased from 451 in 2007 to 330* in 2008.
Year/No. of women giving Irish addresses in Clinics in The Netherlands
2005/42
2006/461
2007/451**
2008/330*
Speaking about the figures, Katharine Bulbulia, Chair of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme said: "I note that the figures have decreased for women giving Irish addresses in UK abortion clinics for the seventh successive year since the Crisis Pregnancy Programme's establishment in 2001. We know that the only other country that women are currently travelling to in significant numbers for abortion is the Netherlands. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme will continue to monitor the numbers travelling to other jurisdictions into the future."
*The figure of 330 is preliminary, but the final figure is unlikely to be significantly different.
**This figure of 451 has been revised upwards from 445 (compared with a press release issued by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme in June 2008) in light of additional information received from abortion clinics in the Netherlands.
For more information, click here
Back to top
Guidelines for the Care of Women with Concealed Pregnancy Launched at Portiuncula Hospital
On the 22nd May, the Health Service Executive (HSE) West and the Crisis Pregnancy Programme launched a new set of guidelines to assist health professionals in the care of women who conceal their pregnancy. The guidelines are designed to provide a protocol for health care staff working in maternity settings and assist them in recognising and responding to the individual needs of women who present after concealing their pregnancy. The guidelines follow the publication of a report "Concealed Pregnancy: A Case Study in an Irish Setting" by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme and the HSE West in 2006.
Speaking at the launch in Portiuncula Hospital, Katharine Bulbulia, Chair, Crisis Pregnancy Programme, said: "Concealed pregnancy has wide-ranging implications for the woman, her social network and the professional services she comes into contact with. These guidelines are the result of a collaborative partnership between the Crisis Pregnancy Programme, the HSE West and a range of health professionals. They will enable health professionals in maternity settings to standardise responses to women and assist health and support services in delivering the best care to women. While instances of concealed pregnancy are not very common, the possible negative physical and psychological outcomes make it imperative that the best possible support and care is given to women who are in this situation."
Marie Finn, Crisis Pregnancy Counsellor at Portiuncula Hospital said: "I welcome the launch of the new guidelines. From a practitioner's perspective, these guidelines will further work towards ensuring a sensitive and tailored response in the form of a care pathway to any women who presents with a concealed pregnancy."
At the launch of Guidelines for the care of women with concealed pregnancy at Portiuncula Hospital on Friday May 22nd, Back Row: Marie Kelly, Senior Executive Officer, Portiuncula Hospital; Bridgetta McHugh, General Manager, Portiuncula Hospital; Catherine Conlon, Guest Speaker; Fergus Hannon, Patient Services Manager, Portiuncula Hospital; Caroline Dolan, Divisional Nurse Manager, Portiuncula Hospital; Mary Hoey, Ante-Natal Educator, Portiuncula Hospital; Caroline Spillane, Director, Crisis Pregnancy Programme; Katharine Bulbulia, Chair, Crisis Pregnancy Programme. Front Row, Portiuncula Hospital staff: Sarah McMickan, Director of Nursing; Aileen Mulvihill, Maternity Social Worker; Marie Finn, Crisis Pregnancy Counsellor; and Clare O'Connell, Clinical Nurse Manager 2.
For more information, click here
To order a copy of the Guidelines, contact the Crisis Pregnancy Programme, on 01 814 6292 or email info@crisispregnancy.ie.
To view the Concealed Pregnancy Guidelines, click here
To view a copy of 'Concealed Pregnancy: A case-study approach from an Irish setting', click here
Back to top
Another Busy Year for Mary Immaculate College's Student Parent Co-ordinator - Nicola Hurley
The Student Parent Co-ordinator, Nicola Hurley, acts as a first point of contact for students experiencing crisis pregnancy and student parents who need support in any area of student life. Practical information and emotional supports are provided by the co-ordinator in addition to providing sign posting to other key support services such as crisis pregnancy counselling services and community welfare services amongst others.
This project commenced in October 2007 and the second year of this three year pilot project is now complete. Nicola has assisted over 100 individual clients to date, including men whose partners have experienced crisis pregnancy, the majority of clients have sought and been provided with support on an ongoing basis.
This pilot was funded under the theme of 'Engaging employers and educational institutions in providing support to women experiencing crisis pregnancy – this could be extended to include support to encourage women to return to work, study or training'. This innovative pilot represents the first of its kind in terms of facilitating a post in a third level college that is specifically designated to provide day-to-day supports for students experiencing crisis pregnancy and student parents.
The demand for the service has increased steadily since the start of the project and additional funding is now being provided by the College to support an additional day of service availability.
Nicola describes the work as 'joining the circle' between student supports and college structures. The Co-ordinator has also established links with important outside agencies including: crisis pregnancy counselling services; community welfare services; Parent Support Programmes; supported accommodation service providers in Limerick city; and other key information and support services at a national level who can assist this target group.
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has committed to support the ongoing delivery of this project to 30th June 2010. An external evaluation of the pilot has been commissioned and is underway at present. The results of this evaluation will assist the Student's Union and the College in determining the future of this pilot.
For further information on this pilot, please contact, Orla Banks, Student Union General Manager, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick on 061 400 013.
Back to top
Information Pack for Parents Who are Not Married to Each Other
The 2009 edition of Treoir's Information Pack for parents who are not married to each other is now available. Funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme, this Pack is an essential support to unmarried parents and those involved with them (i.e. family, friends and health care professionals). It contains information on legal issues such as guardianship, access, maintenance, DNA testing, passports and cohabitation. The Pack also includes information on Social Welfare issues such as One-Parent Family Payment, Family Income Supplement, Rent Supplement and other relevant topics.
Copies of the Information Pack are available free of charge from Treoir, on LoCall 1890 252 084 or email info@treoir.ie. The Information Pack can also be viewed on www.treoir.ie.
Back to top
|
