"Conscientious objectors" are grabbing the headlines, but we are conscientious Midwives and Nurses (& Students) who support provision of free, safe legal abortion care in Ireland. Hear our voices too! #WeWillProvide 

Dear Minister Harris

I am a Midwife/Nurse or Student Nurse/Student Midwife registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. I am writing to express my concern regarding the Health (Termination of pregnancy) Bill 2018. As it stands the legislation fails to provide adequate representations for the role of midwives and nurses in the provision of much-needed comprehensive abortion service in Ireland. The proposed legislation must ensure in scrupulous detail that the needs of women seeking abortion are fully and sensitively met.

The World Health Organization (WHO 2014), identifies abortion as one of the five major causes of maternal mortality. We know from statistics compiled from the UK DOH prior to the referendum in May, that a total of 168,705 women traveled from Ireland to the UK for abortions between 1980 and 2016. This figure represents a staggering dearth of appropriate care for Irish women within the Irish health care system, endangering their very well-being and confirms we must provide safe care.

One of the core principles for all practicing midwives and nurses working within the NMBI Code and Practice standards 2014, is the philosophy to protect the safety and autonomy of the woman/patient, respecting her experiences, choices, priorities, beliefs and values. As a healthcare professional whose duty is to provide respectful care for women in all aspects of their reproductive health, I am disconcerted at the exclusion of the role of Irish midwives and nurses from this bill, a profession whom have been historically committed to working to ensure best patient care is provided as safely as possible.

Midwives' and nurses' role in providing care and counseling to people seeking termination of pregnancy will be significant and critical to the successful service from the onset and it is therefore imperative that those who want to provide this care are fully supported to execute that role to the fullest. There are midwives and nurses up and down the country who voted and campaigned to bring Irish reproductive healthcare into the 21st Century and in line with international evidence to include termination of pregnancy as a safe and legal option for pregnant people in Ireland. As highlighted by international evidence we understand the essential role of abortion in a safe, just and equitable reproductive healthcare system, to promote and protect our role in caring for people seeking termination of pregnancy.

The legislation, employers, regulatory body and trade unions must make provisions for and respect and uphold the needs and welfare of those who wish to conscientiously object. In equal accordance midwives and nurses who wish to respect and support the wishes of the Irish electorate and fulfill our duties in providing safe care to the Irish public equally demand adequate legislation that recognizes our role in a fully operational reproductive health service.

As a profession both midwives and nurses are deeply committed and dedicated to those in their care. On a personal level as a Midwife/Nurse I am deeply concerned that the current legislation ignores the importance of midwives and nurses in the forthcoming provision of abortion services in this country and denies me the opportunity to willingly provide competent and comprehensive care to the people who seek it out. I hope you will be able to take on these genuine points of concern from my professional perspective and that I will be able to rely on your offices support on this matter.