GPS ‘NOT READY FOR ABORTIONS BY JAN 1’ Ex-president asylum denial
Senior doc warns many questions are ‘unanswered’
URUGUAY has rejected a request for asylum by Peru’s former president.
Alan Garcia entered the Uruguayan embassy in Lima on November 17 after he was accused of taking bribes from building giant Odebrecht.
Mr Garcia’s whereabouts are not now known. FAMILY doctors are not ready to carry out abortions at the start of next year, it was claimed yesterday.
Dr Illona Duffy, who specialises in gynaecology and paediatrics, said there were several “unanswered questions and concerns” about the Gp-led abortion service.
She said: “The Minister for Health and the Taoiseach insist this will be rolled out on January 1 yet we know our obstetricians and the maternity hospitals have said they are not going to be ready.
“We still don’t have details of the helpline, the website, and how all of this is going to be run so there’s this feeling that come January 1 the only people who are going to be at the frontline with the expectation that they will provide the service will be the GPS.”
It is believed the 24-hour helpline and website will provide details of where women can access termination services.
Dr Duffy added the self-referral option needs to be highlighted to make it easy for women to access these services.
She said patients in many countries, including Australia and England, can self-refer to abortion clinics without having to go to a GP.
OPTION
She told Sean O’rourke on RTE: “There was a concern that perhaps this is being done because we’re seen as the cheapest port of call.
“They don’t have to hire new staff, they don’t have to hire premises.”
Dr Duffy added this was done without “any true consultation” with GPS.
She was speaking after a number of doctors stormed out of a general meeting of the Irish College of General Practitioners in Malahide, Dublin, on Sunday.
Some of those who walked out are conscientious objectors who do not want to carry out terminations, while others were concerned about the extra workload.
Dr Duffy said it was regrettable colleagues felt like they were being ignored.
She added GPS are also concerned about the extra workload which is being added at a time when they are under huge stress.
Dr Duffy said: “When we know we’re seeing the loss of a same-day service, when we know GPS who are retiring aren’t being replaced and GPS moving to many towns can’t find a new GP, here we are with the Government saying, ‘Here you go. Here’s another service for you to provide’.”