Information for Irish women about abortion services in the UK and Europe


Introduction.

This website has been set up by pro-choice activists to provide Irish women information about abortion services in the UK and Europe. Abortion is illegal in Ireland and because of this thousands of Irish women travel to the UK every year. The Irish Government, under the 1995 Information Act, severely restricts Irish people's access to information about abortion services abroad. Abortion information is only legally obtainable as part of face-to-face counselling. It is illegal for a doctor to refer a patient to a clinic in Britain, even if her health is at risk. We believe that the 1995 Information Act should be deleted in order that women can obtain information easily and with anonymity. Choosing to have an abortion is a very difficult and emotional decision for a woman to make. If you are in a crisis pregnancy situation, you should consider all the options available to you - parenting, adoption and abortion. We are not advocating that women experiencing unplanned pregnancies should have abortions. We are simply providing information that can help ease the stress and emotional strain the Irish government inflicts on Irish women by not making information easily available. We have no connection with any of the groups, organisations, companies, clinics etc... listed on this page.

Before you make any decision, consider all your options....

If you, a friend or family member is in a crisis pregnancy situation the following agencies can offer you advice and counselling. The 3 organisations listed below offer non-directive counselling sessions which means that they will talk openly about all the options available to you - adoption, abortion and parenting.

Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA)
Centres located in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick.
Phone: 1850 495051
Website: http://www.ifpa.ie

Dublin Well Woman Clinic
Phone: 01 8728051 (Lower Liffey Street)
Phone: 01 6609860 (Ballsbridge)
Phone: 01 8484511 (Coolock)
Website: http://www.wellwomancentre.ie/

Cherish
2 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: 1890 66 22 12 (Lo Call) or 01 662 9212.
The lines are open from 9 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday.
Website: http://www.cherish.ie

Clinics in the United Kingdom.

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)
To contact the BPAS action line from Ireland phone +44 121 450 7700.
This action line is available, Monday to Friday from 8am to 9pm, Saturday - 8.30 am to 6pm and on Sunday - 9.30am to 2.30pm.
Or visit their website at http://www.bpas.org

Marie Stopes International
To contact Marie Stopes from Ireland phone +44 (0) 845 300 8090
Or visit their website at http://www.mariestopesorg.uk

Marie Stopes have centres in Bristol, Essex, West London, Central London, South London, Leeds, Maidstone, Manchester and Reading.

Clinics in Europe.

Due to the introduction of the euro and the availability of cheap flights to mainland Europe many Irish women are travelling to Brussels and Amsterdam. Below is information about clinics in the Netherlands and Belguim. This information is taken from the Women on Waves website.

Clinics in Belguim are:

Sjerp - DILEMMA
VUB - Gebouw Y
Triomflaan 1, toegang 7 1050 Brussel
Phone: 32- 2/629 23 40
E-mail: [email protected]
http://sss.vub.ac.be/sjerp/dil.html

CEVO
H. Jasparlaan 102
1060 Brussel
Phone: 32- 2/539 32 07

If you want to travel to the Netherlands these are the Dutch clinics near the airport. Find other Dutch clinics at http://www.stisan.nl

Oosterparkkliniek (also late abortions)
Oosterpark 59
1092 AR Amsterdam
Phone: +31-20-6932151

P.S.E.
Diezestraat 42-44
1078 JS Amsterdam
Phone:+31-20-6737241

SMCG (also late abortions)
Kort Rapenburg 1
2311 GC Leiden
Phone: +31-71-5126941
E-mail: [email protected]

Stichting MR'70
Sarphatistraat 620-626
1018 AV Amsterdam
Phone:+ 31-20-6245426
E-mail: [email protected]

Travelling to the UK and Europe.

By Plane:
Cork, Dublin and Shannon Airports will fly you to various locations in the UK.
For information about timetables and fares, please visit the airlines websites.

Aerlingus.
Dublin - Birmingham, Bristol, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester.
Cork - London Heathrow.
Shannon - London Heathrow.

Ryanair.
Dublin - Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol, London (Luton, Stanstead and Gatwick), Manchester.
Shannon - London Stanstead.
Cork - London Stanstead.

With Ryanair, you can travel to Brussels from Dublin and Shannon.

With Aerlingus, you can travel to Brussels from Dublin.

By Ferry:
For information about ferry sailings from Dublin Port to Holyhead (Wales). Contact Irish Ferries or Stena Lines.
For information about ferry sailings from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead (Wales). Contact Stena Lines.

By Bus:
}Bus Eireann operate buses from Galway and Dublin that travel to Birmingham and London. For information about this bus services contact Eurolines.

Accommodation in the UK and Europe.

The following websites may be helpful if you are looking to find accommodation in the UK.
http://www.visitbritain.com/ie/search/accommodation.htm
http://www.hotellink.co.uk/
http://www.hotelsgreatbritain.com
http://www.shopperuk.com/listings.php?list=380&cat=33

These websites may be useful if you are looking to find accommodation in Belguim.
http://www.city-accommodation.com/hotels/BRU_brussels/hotels.html
http://www.hotelbrussels.org/
http://www.travel-belgium.com/

These websites may be useful if you are looking to find accommodation in the Netherlands.
http://www.hotels.nl/
http://www.247-shopping.co.uk/results.php?keyword=netherlands%20hotel

Post Abortion Services.

The Dublin Well Woman Clinic and the Irish Family Planning Association are two organisations that may be able to help after you have an abortion. Both organisations provide support and counselling after an abortion and post abortion medical check-ups. You will probably need to make an appointment.

Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA)
Centres located in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick.
Phone: 1850 495051
Website: http://www.ifpa.ie

Dublin Well Woman Clinic
Phone: 01 8728051 (Lower Liffey Street)
Phone: 01 6609860 (Ballsbridge)
Phone: 01 8484511 (Coolock)
Website: http://www.wellwomancentre.ie/


Disclaimer

This website has been established by Irish pro-choice activists. We do not have any financial interest in any of the abortion clinics listed above. We are not connected in anyway to any of the organisations listed above. We will not benefit in any way from a woman using any of the above services, be it using a particular counselling service or using a ferry service mentioned above.

Free, safe, legal abortion services in Ireland now!