General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones))
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The government approved the General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) for formal drafting and approved the publication of the General Scheme on the Department of Health’s website.
The government committed to ensuring that anyone needing a termination of pregnancy (TOP) can access services in safety and this commitment is reflected in the Programme for Government to “establish exclusion zones around medical facilities.”
The aim of this General Scheme of a Bill and the underpinning policy is to ensure safe access to Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services for women, service providers and their staff throughout the country. The policy objectives are to:
The General Scheme of the Bill proposes to designate safe access zones around sites that can provide TOP services in accordance with the Act of 2018, not just those that do. It is proposed that a zone, consisting of 100 metres surrounding or adjacent to each of these healthcare premises will be designated. This will include the premises (buildings and land and curtilage) of hospitals, community care and secondary care centres, being predominately general practitioners. Conduct which intentionally or reasonably would have the effect of influencing the decision of a person in relation to availing of, or providing, termination of pregnancy services, or interfering with a person’s access to or provision of termination of pregnancy services will be prohibited in the safe access zones.