Up to 230 women a month expected to seek terminations
SOME 230 women a month could potentially avail of a medical abortion if the measure is eventually supported in a referendum.
A majority of Irish women who have abortions in the UK terminate their pregnancy within 12 weeks.
Last year, 2,766 women from the Republic who travelled to UK abortion clinics were 12 or less weeks pregnant.
Figures showed that 2,256 had an abortion at between three to nine weeks, and another 510 between 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The Oireachtas will have to decide early in 2018 if the proposal to allow unrestricted abortion here up to 12 weeks of pregnancy is put to the electorate in a referendum.
Draft proposals that have been drawn up in the event of this becoming law envisage a GP-led service.
Women at this stage of gestation would have a medical abortion.
This involves taking abortion pills, two medications, usually 24 to 48 hours apart, to induce a miscarriage.
The HSE would have to ensure there is counselling involved, as well as access to scans for these women seeking an abortion.
The Government would also have to decide if the service should be paid for, and if it would be free to medical card holders. Last year, 499 women with addresses in the Republic had abortions in the UK after 12 weeks.
A minority of women were 20 or more weeks pregnant.
Meanwhile, a new report has called for lessons to be learned from the deaths of women during and after pregnancy in Ireland and the UK.
The report of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity looked at the care of women who died between 2013 and 2015 in the UK and Republic of Ireland from neurological conditions, other medical and surgical conditions, sepsis, anaesthetic complications, haemorrhage and amniotic fluid embolism.
The referendum to be held next year may include a question on whether the public would support abortion to protect the health of a woman.
The report has information on 556 women who died during or up to one year after the end of pregnancy between 2013 and 2015.
It said that high level actions are needed to ensure that it is seen as the responsibility of all health professionals to facilitate opportunistic pre- and post-pregnancy counselling for a woman with a pre-existing medical condition.
Cardiac disease remains the leading cause of indirect maternal death during or up to six weeks after the end of pregnancy.
It said that pregnant women with epilepsy often face additional physical, mental health or social problems.
Positive
Dr Peter Boylan, of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “There is always room for improvement. Guidelines for optimum care are constantly reviewed and updated, as is the training of doctors and midwives who are caring for mothers and delivering babies across Ireland.
“The implementation of the National Maternity Strategy is also a very positive step for the Irish maternity services and the establishment of the National Women and Infants Health Programme.
“It is essential that women with underlying physical and mental health problems are supported and receive advice around medication and to plan for contraception as well as the next pregnancy.
“It is important for all women to keep as healthy as possible before becoming pregnant to avoid problems.”