Kilkenny hospital doctors refuse to do abortions

Four consultant obstetricians at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny have written to GPs in the region to advise that abortions will not be practiced in the hospital. Nine out of 19 maternity hospitals in the country are not performing abortions.

The doctors have also informed the CEO of the Ireland East Hospital Group, Mary Day.

The letter said that the consultants “decided unanimously that the hospital is not an appropriate location for medical or surgical terminations”.

It was “also adjudged that, in the event of professional and values training of staff willing to participate in such procedures, the hospital remains an unsuitable location for these services”.

The medics said that, while hospital staff were committed to the safe delivery of care for women, “the provision of a termination service is not possible for a multitude of very challenging reasons”.

They added: “Obviously, if a patient is moribund or with haemorrhage or sepsis, she will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.”

The letter further said the hospital did not have a referral pathway and added it was their understanding that Wexford likewise was not providing the service.