Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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728. To ask the Minister for Health if possible links between coercion to have an abortion and telemedicine abortion has been examined by his Department or any agency on behalf of his Department; if not, if any relevant research has been commissioned on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15336/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On April 6th 2020 the Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy was revised temporarily for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency to facilitate remote consultation in early pregnancy. No formal research or analysis on remote consultation has been conducted in Ireland however, there has been positive feedback from providers and patients and there is strong evidence from published literature in the UK and Europe that remote provision of abortion care is safe and effective. In light of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in Q4 of 2021, the Department requested the HSE to revisit the Model of Care to review its operation and consider whether it should be retained going forward.

This review has shown that including remote consultation as part of the termination of pregnancy service is safe, effective and acceptable to both service users and providers. It improves access for many women and addresses geographical and logistical barriers. It also alleviates some of the difficulty associated with the mandatory 3-day waiting period. Availability of remote consultation places the woman at the centre of the process and supports her reproductive autonomy. There is a growing body of evidence that telemedicine use in termination of pregnancy care has outcomes that are consistent with in-person care and it is now becoming normalised in many other countries. The majority of providers feel that a blend of remote and in-person care is optimal. Timely access to care, as close to home or the community as possible is a key principle of the vision of Sláintecare. The review of the changes to the Termination of Pregnancy model of care adopted during the pandemic is an appropriate and timely initiative. The Department is continuing its engagements with the HSE regarding the final considerations vis-a-vie adopting the blended model as the enduring model of care for termination of pregnancy services. The outcome of the review will be made available once this deliberative process concludes. In the meantime, it is important to reflect that the temporary model of care, along with the relevant public health advice remain in place.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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729. To ask the Minister for Health when the deliberative process assessing the findings of the review into telemedicine abortion will be completed and its conclusions announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15337/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and limit the spread of Covid-19, the Department of Health and the HSE worked together in 2020 to put arrangements in place to allow termination of pregnancy services in early pregnancy to be provided remotely. For the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency, where the need for social distancing, reducing personal contacts and reducing the burden on medical practitioners were paramount, it became possible for a woman to access a termination under section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (i.e., before 12 weeks) from her medical practitioner by telephone or video conference consultation.

There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to monitor service provision, facilitate the smooth-running of the service and resolve any issues that may arise. However, with restrictions eased, the Department is currently reviewing whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post the COVID-19 public health emergency period.

At the request of the Department, the HSE conducted a review of the Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy. The findings of this review are currently being examined as part of a deliberative process. The consideration of appropriate next steps will form part of this process. The Department is continuing to engage with the HSE on this matter and hopes to bring it to a conclusion as soon as possible.