Dr. Peter Boylan:

Yes, it is. I will address head 7 on nine and 12 weeks first of all. Beyond nine weeks the rate of complication such as bleeding and perhaps a need for surgical completion increases and, therefore, it is not appropriate that should be carried out in the community. Most of the early terminations, in fact the vast majority, will take place in the woman's own home, in her own environment wherever she wishes to be. That is not appropriate if there is a high rate of complications from a patient safety point of view and so from nine to 12 weeks women will require hospital management. That raises the question of ultrasound as a dating mechanism. Figures vary but in Scotland, for example, about 30% of women will require a scan for uncertain dates and it will probably be something similar here. We have to be very careful in this country when introducing this service that there are no hiccups or adverse outcomes so we recommend that the majority of women would have access to an ultrasound scan if necessary or if the doctor feels that it is necessary. That will require a significant beefing up of ultrasound availability to doctors working in the community and to doctors in general.

In respect of the three day waiting period, there is not really any evidence that it is necessary. There are mixed opinions about it obviously and in some countries in Europe, the Netherlands for example, there is a waiting period between the time of first consultation and the actual termination of pregnancy. There is not, however, any evidence that it is necessary and it also makes presumptions about women's ability to make decisions about their own healthcare. We have heard much about paternalism and attitudes to women recently in light of the CervicalCheck problems so while there will be mixed views about it, many doctors feel that it is not in fact absolutely necessary and perhaps should be dropped. That is, however, a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas.