First Abortion clinic in Ireland!

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The first private clinic providing abortions in Northern Ireland is due to open next week, amid plans by a pro-life group to take legal action against the opening.

Officially approved terminations will be carried out at the Marie Stopes sexual health centre in Belfast, operating within the current laws in Northern Ireland.

Those laws differ from the rest of the UK, in that abortions are only allowed if the pregnant woman is at immediate risk or if there is a long-term or permanent risk to her physical or mental health.

A DHSSPS spokesman confirmed that there is no gestation limit set for a termination in Northern Ireland, which means that - if approved by a doctor - a pregnancy can be ended at any stage.

“In the rare instances where a termination of pregnancy is carried out, a doctor will have made an assessment on the most appropriate medical treatment based on the condition affecting the woman, its severity and the likely impact on her life or long term health,” the spokesperson added.

“Any decision taken must meet the legislative requirements set out in the law for Northern Ireland.”

The new clinic, which will open next Thursday, is headed by programme director and former Progressive Unionist MLA Dawn Purvis and will provide a range of services.

The abortions available would only be carried out during the first nine weeks of pregnancy.

Our services will be delivered in a confidential, sensitive and non-judgmental way.

Dawn Purvis, Marie Stopes centre
Ultrasound scans will also be available, along with STI testing and treatment, HIV testing, short and long-term contraceptive options and emergency contraception.

“We believe this is great news for the people of Northern Ireland because we will be able to meet their family planning and sexual health needs in a way that has not been seen here before,” Ms Purvis said.

“We have a new, purpose-built, centrally located specialist centre. Our team are highly trained and dedicated healthcare professionals.”

But pro-life campaigner Bernadette Smyth, from the Precious Life group, has said she will take legal action against the centre’s opening.

She told UTV: "I will be making a formal complaint to the PSNI, to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, and I will be in communication with our own government at Stormont, to ensure any plans to destroy the life of an unborn child are stopped immediately.

“The figures for women seeking an abortion have been coming down. The reduction in the number of women travelling to England has fallen by 36% over the last 15 years since the foundation of Precious Life.”
 
Dr Paula Franklin from Marie Stopes said the abortions offered by the clinic - which involve taking tablets - would only be available to women who meet criteria set by two different doctors.

Aftercare, such as counselling, would be provided for patients.

“In cases where we feel the woman’s case meets medical requirements, we will carry out medical abortions,” Dr Franklin explained.

"That’s where two doctors independently review the woman’s history and current physical and mental health. We know there will be opposition, but we also hope there will be some support from the people of Northern Ireland. We think this is a positive move and we believe there is a need.

"Many women from Northern Ireland travel to England for terminations every year. We also know of woman who are unable to make that journey.

“If we can provide, in the right circumstances, for those women who meet the criteria, this is the right thing to do.”

There is no demand for Marie Stopes in Northern Ireland.

Bernadette Smyth, Precious Life
South Belfast MLA Anna Lo has welcomed the opening of the clinic.

“They will be operating within the current law, so I am deeply saddened by the criticism that some people have directed towards this development,” she said, speaking in a personal capacity.

"This is a step forward in the right direction for Northern Ireland, especially considering that we are decades behind the rest of the UK on this issue.

“There is still more work to do to offer women full choice but this is a ground-breaking day for women in Northern Ireland.”

Meanwhile, TUV leader Jim Allister said he wants the number of abortions carried out at the new clinic to be made public.

He told UTV: "There is a challenge to the Marie Stopes centre - will they publish the number of abortions they carry out so that it can be benchmarked against the proven demand level?

"I believe that someone should speak up for the unborn child who the people want to abort and that our law should go no further than it does at present, in terms of providing that - in very extreme circumstances - a case can be made for termination of pregnancy.

“But it should not be liberalised or lessened in any way because we are talking, at the end of the day, about snuffing out the life of a human being.”

Marie Stopes clinics in England are regulated by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, but that won’t be the case in Northern Ireland.

“The nature of services proposed by Marie Stopes International are currently not subject to regulation under The Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,” an RQIA spokesperson confirmed.

“RQIA will continue to liaise with the service provider to ensure that any changes in the proposed service model that results in a requirement for regulation are dealt with appropriately.”

It will be for the police to investigate any concerns that arise and the courts to determine whether an offence has been carried out.

Health Minister Edwin Poots
According to Department of Health figures for 2011/2012, there were 35 “terminations of pregnancy”.

Health Minister Edwin Poots said: "I note that Marie Stopes International state very clearly that they will work within the law.

"An operation in Northern Ireland for the termination of a pregnancy may not result in criminal liability when it is necessary to preserve the life of the woman or there is a risk of real and serious adverse effect on her physical or mental health, which is either long term or permanent.

“This condition applies no less strongly before nine weeks than longer into the pregnancy.”

© UTV News

u.tv/News/NIs-first-abortion-clinic-to-open/225ee1ef-3f48-40fe-8925-e17d9cc3d8bf
 
Dear Lord.

I will pray for you in Ireland! This is how it begins, and it doesn’t stop there.

😦
 
Northern Ireland must be prayed for. It’s bad enough with all the other business on the go.
 
This clinic will be in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country.

Ireland, however, is facing pressure to loosen its abortion laws. So it seems reasonable to pray for both countries.
 
Dale_M said:
This clinic will be in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country.

Ireland, however, is facing pressure to loosen its abortion laws. So it seems reasonable to pray for both countries.
Click to expand...
Northern Ireland is the six :blackeye:northeast counties, the Republe of Ireland is the other twenty-six counties which have not been under English rule for over eighty years. :):irish1: One day may all thirty-twio counties will be united. :extrahappy::shamrock2::shamrock2:
 
tabycat said:
Northern Ireland is the six :blackeye:northeast counties, the Republe of Ireland is the other twenty-six counties which have not been under English rule for over eighty years. :):irish1: One day may all thirty-twio counties will be united. :extrahappy::shamrock2::shamrock2:
Click to expand...
:D:irish1:
 
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