Dr. Caitriona Henchion:

The simple answer is that I do not have data that I can give the Deputy now but I would say that those numbers are very small. The majority of women are presenting well before ten weeks so it would only be a small number of women for whom that would arise. Out of proportion to that number, however, is the concern about it. We go to a considerable amount of effort in following up women afterwards to make sure, if their test is positive. In most cases if they did the test again in a week, it would be negative by then but we are afraid of losing that week. We are bringing those women in and doing two blood tests on them to check that their pregnancy hormone levels are dropping. We are actually putting them through anxiety and difficulty, as well as ourselves. We are doing all of that without any extra fees. We are doing all of those extra consultations and that is part of the effect of it. There is extra anxiety for women and for providers. In our experience, only a very small number of women have come to us thinking they would be eligible but have turned out to be just over the limit or for whom the three days has put them over the limit although it definitely has happened. I have had those conversations with women but in a very, very small number of cases.