Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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147. To ask the Minister for Health if the Department will undertake further independent research into abortion provision, in light of the HSE's more recent position since the 2021 review, that telemedicine abortion can make it more difficult to identify coercion or abuse. [24163/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy Services was introduced in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

In light of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, my Department requested the HSE to review whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post public health emergency, in community care settings.

This review found that 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.

The revised blended Model of Care provides for remote consultation. However, in general, early medical termination of pregnancy will be provided by in-person or a blend of in-person and remote consultation.

Full remote provision of early medical termination of pregnancy will not be routine and will only be provided in extenuating circumstances, using clinical judgement and putting appropriate safeguards in place.

Exactly as is the case for an in-person consultation, medical practitioners undertaking a remote early pregnancy TOP consultation

1. Take a detailed medical history;
2. Determine the duration of pregnancy based on the date of the woman’s Last Menstrual Period (LMP);
3. Remain alert for any verbal or visual cues which might raise concern about the patients safety.