6,700 people accessed abortion care in Ireland in 2021, yet hundreds of people still had to travel abroad
206 pregnant people travelled from the Republic and 161 from Northern Ireland to have an abortion in England or Wales in 2021.
6,700 people had an abortion in Ireland last year. Figures released by the Department of Health show that people in every county accessed abortion care. However, data released earlier this year by the National Women’s Council, following a request to the Health Services Executive (HSE), tells us that only 1 in 10 GPs provides abortion services, with significant gaps in provision in rural counties. Add in the fact that only 11 out of 19 maternity units offer a complete range of abortion services, and it is clear that many people need to travel outside their county for abortion care.
Helen Stonehouse, a spokesperson for the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC), said, ‘The amount of abortions carried out in Ireland last year underscores the consistent demand for quality, accessible abortion care in every county. Overall, the number of abortions is broadly similar to 2019 and 2020, and once again, people from every county in Ireland accessed abortion services.’
Yet, as the world adjusted to the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated travel restrictions, 367 people from the island of Ireland travelled abroad for abortion care. UK Department of Health statistics shows that 206 pregnant people travelled from the Republic and 161 from Northern Ireland to have an abortion in England or Wales in 2021.
‘Every person forced to travel for abortion care did so during the waves of Covid-19, risking their health and their family’s health,’ explained ARC’s Stonehouse. ‘It also constitutes a serious curtailment of human rights for each person who had to undertake that journey. It is unacceptable that anybody should be forced to travel for abortion care.’
People who voted Yes to repeal the Eighth Amendment in 2018 expected that their vote would end Ireland exporting its abortion care to the UK. However, the restrictive nature of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 means people who need an abortion after their 12th week of pregnancy must meet specific criteria. When they do not, Ireland still relies on the UK to fill in the gaps in our abortion services.
The Unplanned Pregnancy and Abortion Care (UnPAC) study includes the experiences of people who received a foetal anomaly diagnosis. While some women qualified for a termination under the legislation, others did not. The already worrying and stressful time of waiting for test results is made even more difficult for women and their families by the reality of needing to travel to England because their diagnosis does not meet the legislative criteria that would allow them to have a termination in Ireland.
One woman, Cara, said, ‘And again that, at that stage it is bizarre waiting for results, and I’m saying please let it be fatal. Please let the diagnosis be fatal. So, I don’t have to make this decision.’
Northern Ireland decriminalised abortion in 2019, but abortion services have not been fully commissioned due to government inaction. Early medical abortion up to 10 weeks of pregnancy is available in four Health and Social Care Trusts. The Western Trust suspended its abortion services in April 2021, but people can now access abortion care in another Trust. People over 10 weeks gestation can access NHS-funded abortion care in England.
Responding to the news that 161 pregnant people needed to travel to have abortions in England or Wales, Alliance for Choice said, ‘The Department of Health should not be concentrating on a ‘reduced number’. Even if one person was forced to travel, it is still one too many. They should be commissioning services so that every woman & pregnant person gets the abortion healthcare they need as early as possible & as late as necessary.’
In a reminder that the impact of the gaps in abortion provision across the island is the same, Alliance for Choice Derry tweeted, ‘To the 367 people from the island of Ireland who were forced to travel to GB for abortion care in 2021 we are so angry and so desperately sorry that political cowardice across this land continues to inflict unimaginable trauma.’
We face different laws, but this is the same fight. We are all fighting for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom. Hard-won rights can be removed, and where the right to abortion exists, it must be supported by timely local access to abortion care for everyone as early as possible and as late as necessary.
But What Can I Do?
Share information on how to access abortions.
In Ireland, if you or anyone you know needs an abortion, the HSE’s MyOptions service will help you find your nearest provider. Phone 1800 828 010.
The Abortion Rights Campaign has written a blog post about how the legislation works and on what grounds abortion is permissible after the 12-week on-request period has passed — Need an abortion?
In Northern Ireland, Alliance for Choice Belfast and Alliance for Choice Derry have shared information on accessing abortion services in the North.
Alliance for Choice Belfast — I Need An Abortion Now.
Alliance for Choice Derry — Abortion Help
In the US, ineeda.com provides up-to-date information on how to get an abortion.
In Ireland, make a submission to the public consultation on the updated junior cycle Social, Personal and Health Education / Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum. Read the draft Junior Cycle Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Short Course specification here. The template for written submissions is available to download here.
Know about abortion pills.
We Testify has a great comic about self-managed abortion based on information provided by the World Health Organization. Share the comic on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Donate to abortion funds.
In Europe, donate to Abortion Support Network and Abortion Without Borders.
In the US, the National Network of Abortion Funds lists funds in every state — donating here means your donation supports 90+ organisations.
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