Dr. Máire Milner:

Deputy Conway asked about surgical termination as referred to by Dr. Mary McCaffrey. This is very similar to a procedure we employ for miscarriage. Absolutely, there are issues. While I am not sure a consultant would have to retrain, things will depend on the circumstances. This is not in any way going to be a very common scenario and it does not introduce hugely difficult technical or logistical difficulties. Surgical termination is a procedure that is employed every day in some hospitals. It depends. There are now many ways of dealing with miscarriage where the uterus has not started to empty itself. We are talking here about where a woman's life is in danger, which means one is often talking with someone who is very ill. Sepsis, which we have all been hearing about from the case in the media, is often occasioned by the rupture of the membranes and the pregnancy is, therefore, already starting to evacuate itself. It is similar with severe pre-eclampsia or haemorrhage. Very often, the haemorrhage is coming from the uterus which is emptying itself anyway. I do not think there is a huge concern about technical difficulties. I do not know if I picked up the Deputy's question correctly.