Final annual report of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency launched
NEW HSE CRISIS PREGNANCY PROGRAMME WORKING TO CREATE STRONGER LINKS AMONG PREGNANCY SERVICES
July 22nd 2010 – The Crisis Pregnancy Agency’s 2009 Annual Report will today be launched by the Minister for Health and Children, Ms Mary Harney T.D. This is the final annual report of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency. Having transferred to the HSE in January 2010, the organisation is now operating as a national programme within the Health Service Executive under the new name of the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
In recent years, Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Services funded by the Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme have reported an increase in the number of clients presenting with highly complex issues. Older women (35+) are attending services in greater numbers, while for many women support is required after a planned pregnancy develops into a crisis over time due to changes in relationship status, employment status or financial concerns.
Increasingly, clients are being referred to specialist crisis pregnancy counsellors from GPs, social workers and those working in maternity settings. The Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme has created support networks and partnerships across a variety of settings and has worked to develop these networks within the health service since transferring to the HSE in January.
Speaking today, Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, T.D., said: “The complexity of the issues facing many women who have an unplanned pregnancy make it imperative that health professionals work collaboratively to ensure the best standard of care is available at all stages of pregnancy. As part of the HSE, the Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme is now in the best possible position to have an even greater impact in the coming years. As part of the health service it can oversee linkages between GPs, crisis pregnancy counsellors, social workers and those working in maternity settings to a greater degree. This referral network is proving to be increasingly effective, but it needs to be built upon and strengthened to ensure that all women receive the specialist care required throughout their pregnancy.”
The Minister will launch the organisation’s annual report, which outlines the work of the Agency in addressing the issue of crisis pregnancy in 2009. It is available for download at www.crisispregnancy.ie.
Katharine Bulbulia, who chaired the Crisis Pregnancy Agency from 2006-2009 said: “The Crisis Pregnancy Agency has had a tremendous impact since 2001, reducing crisis pregnancy, improving the standard and availability of services while also furthering our knowledge of issues relating to crisis pregnancy. As a society, we cannot be complacent in addressing an issue which is so prevalent and affects so many. It’s vital that the strategic focus of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is supported in the HSE to ensure that those who are facing an unplanned pregnancy receive the necessary support and care.”
Since the establishment of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency in 2001:
• Over 30 research reports have been published on issues relating to crisis pregnancy. We now know that 28% of women who have been pregnant have experienced a crisis pregnancy, while 23% of men whose partners have been pregnant have experienced a crisis pregnancy.
• Crisis Pregnancy counselling services have been expanded by over 55%, with free, State funded support now available at over 50 centres nationwide. Since 2003, these services have been advertised through the ‘Positive Options’ campaign, with its message that ‘An unplanned pregnancy is not the end of the world.’
• There have been over 750,000 requests for information from the ‘Positive Options’ service since 2003. Of this, 500,000 contacts have been made requesting contact details for free crisis pregnancy counselling services from the Positive Options SMS service. There have also been over 250,000 visitors to the www.positiveoptions.ie website. 2009 was the busiest ever year for the website with almost 100,000 visitors to www.positiveoptions.ie.
• Sustained decreases in the number of women giving Irish addresses at abortion clinics in the UK and the number of births to teenagers have been recorded. The number of women giving Irish addresses at UK abortion clinics has declined from 6,673 in 2001 to 4,422 in 2009. The number of births to teenagers has declined from 3,087 in 2001 to 2,223 in 2009.
Director of the Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme, Caroline Spillane added: “The Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme has had a continued focus on monitoring and research since our establishment to enable us to identify and respond to emergent issues and trends. The issue of crisis pregnancy has evolved over the past nine years and our focus now is on ensuring that we are best placed to respond as a pivotal part of the HSE’s broader remit in the area of sexual health. Working effectively with our partners, both statutory and non statutory will play a central role in our response to the issue of crisis pregnancy.”
Ends
Editor’s Notes:
1. The HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme (formerly the Crisis Pregnancy Agency) is tasked with developing and implementing a national strategy to achieve the following core objectives:
i. To reduce the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of information, advice and contraceptive services.
ii. To reduce the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion by offering services and supports which make other options more attractive.
iii. To provide counselling services, medical services and such other health services for the purpose of providing support, after crisis pregnancy as may be deemed appropriate by the Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
2. For Crisis Pregnancy Counselling
For a list of organisations offering free, non-judgemental crisis pregnancy counselling, members of the public can freetext the word LIST to 50444 or visit www.positiveoptions.ie.
