A small but growing minority of GPs have signed contracts with the HSE so far to provide “abortion services” from January. According to the Irish Independent, the number might run into hundreds out of the roughly 4,000 GPs in Ireland.

The compliant GPs are returning signed contracts despite the fact that clinical guidelines are still only being drafted. At the same time, GPs who returned an expression of interest in delivering the “service” are being urged to send back a signed contract by tomorrow. This would allow the HSE to send them an information pack with important details of where they would secure the drugs needed for medical abortions.

The HSE wrote to those stating: “if you could return your contractor details and acceptance form on or before Friday, December 14, it would be greatly appreciated”.

The correspondence states that this will allow “the HSE to provide you with the stock order forms for this service so that you can order the medicines from your community pharmacy of choice in advance of the commencement of the service”.