Would It Save Money For Our Nhs If Ireland Vote To Allow Abortions?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5770297/Polls-open-Ireland-s-abortion-referendum.html

/// In 1992, women were officially given the right to travel abroad, mostly to the UK, to obtain terminations. Pro-repeal campaigners said almost 170,000 have done so. ///

/// The Irish Government's deputy premier, Tanaiste Simon Coveney, has argued that effectively left Britain deciding the law for Irish women around the procedure and it was time to take back control in Ireland. ///

[jim360]

My understanding is that most/all such women get abortions privately, rather than on the NHS.

[ichkeria]

That is correct.
So it’ll be bad for business but good for Ireland.
My folks have been out in force this morning in Dublin. But Dublin isn’t the problem sadly ...

[anotheoldgit]

jim360

Have you any firm proof of that?

[ichkeria]

This ad will give you some idea of what goes on

https://www.bpas.ie

[Gromit]

170,000 in 26 years works out at 6,500 annually. Not a vast number. While they are in the UK, ostensibly as tourists, they will be buting food, accommodation, transport - all of which are good for the economy.

As mentioned in previous answers, these terminations are not done on the NHS, so there is no cost to British taxpayers.

[jim360]

It was mentioned in a television feature on the subject recently.

Either way it's not clear to me that it matters. Ireland should repeal the 8th not because it serves English interests, but because it serves the interests of the Irish women who shouldn't have to make the journey in the first place. Whether they go private or use the NHS is irrelevant.

[Mamyalynne]

I think the funding policy was changed as late as June last year, their's a link in Ich's post.

[anotheoldgit]

jim360

Yes totally agree Jim, but my thread is about the cost to our NHS, not the interests of Irish women having to travel here to get an abortion.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Women from Northern Ireland (NI) can now access free abortion care in England. BPAS operates the booking system for NI women requiring treatment. ///

Not sure if those women from Eire have to pay though.

[Mamyalynne]

^ there's a link...shocking mistake

[Neveracrossword]

The cost to the NHS is only a factor from June 2017 - before that, the women had to pay. The numbers (of women) involved since then is in the hundreds, so there aren't huge sums involved, and definitely not huge sums over a number of years..

[anotheoldgit]

Mamyalynne

'Shocking mistake' Mam????

[Mamyalynne]

Well, it's not one I'm proud of.

'their/there' - my mind was distracted.

[ichkeria]

The change applies to women in N Ireland, which is part of the UK, and where abortion is also illegal, but where there’s no referendum today

[Mamyalynne]

Clearer now Ich - thank you.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Ichkeria - I lead myself astray when looking up information. I still don't know if women from Eire get free treatment, procedures - and if so, how long that has been the case.

[Islay]

Well as NI is part of the UK they should be entitled to free NHS care as for Eire I believe they pay a reduced price

[anotheoldgit]

There's more:

/// The spokesperson said: "After decades of political impasse on abortion rights in Northern Ireland, the government’s commitment to fund abortion care in England is a policy that will make a real difference. Bpas will also be funding travel and accommodation for those women who meet the government's eligibility criteria until a permanent framework is in
place. ///

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/northern-ireland-abortion-grants-travel-uk-nhs-free-terminations-a8016056.html

[anotheoldgit]

Neveracrossword

/// About 700 women came to England, from Northern Ireland, for an abortion last year. ///

And that was before they became free, it is reported that women were having to spend £1,400 to get an abortion in England.

[Mamyalynne]

The Vote today is in the Republic of Ireland.