This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19902778
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| NI to get private abortion clinic | NI to get private abortion clinic |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The first private clinic to offer abortions to women in Northern Ireland is due to open next week. | The first private clinic to offer abortions to women in Northern Ireland is due to open next week. |
| The service, run by Marie Stopes, will operate in the centre of Belfast from 18 October. | |
| It says it will provide terminations within Northern Ireland's current legal framework, where abortions are not illegal but are very strictly controlled. | It says it will provide terminations within Northern Ireland's current legal framework, where abortions are not illegal but are very strictly controlled. |
| However, an anti-abortion group has called for it to be shut down. | However, an anti-abortion group has called for it to be shut down. |
| The law governing abortion in Northern Ireland is different to the rest of the UK. | The law governing abortion in Northern Ireland is different to the rest of the UK. |
| In Northern Ireland abortions can only be carried out in cases where continuing the pregnancy would have a serious, permanent or long-term effect on the physical or mental health of the woman. | In Northern Ireland abortions can only be carried out in cases where continuing the pregnancy would have a serious, permanent or long-term effect on the physical or mental health of the woman. |
| There is strict assessment regarding any impact on mental well-being and the woman must consult with her GP and a psychiatrist. | There is strict assessment regarding any impact on mental well-being and the woman must consult with her GP and a psychiatrist. |
| In all of these circumstances, the termination must be carried out before nine weeks gestation and it must be a "medical abortion", where two doses of pills are prescribed. | In all of these circumstances, the termination must be carried out before nine weeks gestation and it must be a "medical abortion", where two doses of pills are prescribed. |
| This is already available on the NHS in Northern Ireland. | This is already available on the NHS in Northern Ireland. |
| A 24-week limit for abortion applies in England, Wales and Scotland. | A 24-week limit for abortion applies in England, Wales and Scotland. |
| The Marie Stopes clinic says it will carry out medical not surgical procedures and only within the permitted nine-week gestation period. | The Marie Stopes clinic says it will carry out medical not surgical procedures and only within the permitted nine-week gestation period. |
| The former Progressive Unionist Party leader, Dawn Purvis, who is the centre's programme director, said it would be "providing early medical abortion within the law as it exists in Northern Ireland". | The former Progressive Unionist Party leader, Dawn Purvis, who is the centre's programme director, said it would be "providing early medical abortion within the law as it exists in Northern Ireland". |
| Ms Purvis said the clinic would also provide advice and treatment for sexually transmitted disease and reproductive health, but it was prepared for any possible controversy. | Ms Purvis said the clinic would also provide advice and treatment for sexually transmitted disease and reproductive health, but it was prepared for any possible controversy. |
| "Our clients' needs are of paramount importance to us and how they access our services in a safe and secure route," she said. | "Our clients' needs are of paramount importance to us and how they access our services in a safe and secure route," she said. |
| "We will be focusing on this and will obviously carry out a risk assessment of our needs and our security and we'll have to revise those as time goes on. | "We will be focusing on this and will obviously carry out a risk assessment of our needs and our security and we'll have to revise those as time goes on. |
| "But we would hope that any client who comes to us can do so and access those services freely, safely and can come to a centre that will be supportive and non-judgemental." | "But we would hope that any client who comes to us can do so and access those services freely, safely and can come to a centre that will be supportive and non-judgemental." |
| Ms Purvis said the regulatory body, the RQIA, had been informed of and consulted on plans for the centre. | Ms Purvis said the regulatory body, the RQIA, had been informed of and consulted on plans for the centre. |
| But Bernie Smyth, of the Anti-Abortion group Precious Life, told the BBC members want the centre shut before its scheduled opening. | But Bernie Smyth, of the Anti-Abortion group Precious Life, told the BBC members want the centre shut before its scheduled opening. |
| 'Huge emotional cost' | 'Huge emotional cost' |
| However, the clinic has been hailed as "groundbreaking" by Darinka Aleksic, of the Abortion Rights group, who said women in Northern Ireland were "treated like second-class citizens when it comes to abortion". | However, the clinic has been hailed as "groundbreaking" by Darinka Aleksic, of the Abortion Rights group, who said women in Northern Ireland were "treated like second-class citizens when it comes to abortion". |
| "Having to travel [to the rest of the UK] or further abroad to access safe, legal abortion exacts a huge financial and emotional cost," she said. | "Having to travel [to the rest of the UK] or further abroad to access safe, legal abortion exacts a huge financial and emotional cost," she said. |
| "Over 50,000 women have had to make this journey over the past 40 years and it is an injustice that must not be allowed to continue. | "Over 50,000 women have had to make this journey over the past 40 years and it is an injustice that must not be allowed to continue. |
| "The opening of this centre will not solve all these problems and the fight for Northern Irish women to have the same rights as women in England, Scotland and Wales has a long way to go. But this is a real step forward." | "The opening of this centre will not solve all these problems and the fight for Northern Irish women to have the same rights as women in England, Scotland and Wales has a long way to go. But this is a real step forward." |
| A Department of Health spokesperson said it would be a "matter for the RQIA" to determine if the clinic needed to be "registered for regulation and inspection by RQIA". | A Department of Health spokesperson said it would be a "matter for the RQIA" to determine if the clinic needed to be "registered for regulation and inspection by RQIA". |
| "The department would encourage anyone who has concerns or is seeking advice or treatment regarding any of these areas to contact their GP, local family planning clinic or genito urinary medicine clinic," the spokesperson said. | "The department would encourage anyone who has concerns or is seeking advice or treatment regarding any of these areas to contact their GP, local family planning clinic or genito urinary medicine clinic," the spokesperson said. |
| In August, Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots told the Stormont Assembly that between 2006 and this year 416 "medical abortions" and 262 pregnancy terminations took place. | In August, Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots told the Stormont Assembly that between 2006 and this year 416 "medical abortions" and 262 pregnancy terminations took place. |
| However, the strict rules on abortion in Northern Ireland do not prevent women from travelling to the rest of the UK for the procedure. | However, the strict rules on abortion in Northern Ireland do not prevent women from travelling to the rest of the UK for the procedure. |
| Figures for 2011, show that just over 1,000 women travelled to England and Wales for terminations. | Figures for 2011, show that just over 1,000 women travelled to England and Wales for terminations. |
| No figures are available for the Northern Ireland women who availed of so called "back street abortions" or who procured abortion-inducing medication online. | No figures are available for the Northern Ireland women who availed of so called "back street abortions" or who procured abortion-inducing medication online. |