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Statements by Our Candidates in the 2005 Elections

David McAuley

Emergency contraception wanted in Altnagelvin A&E

Thursday 28th April 2005

Socialist Environmental Alliance candidate for Waterside, Davy McAuley says that the refusal of the Accident and Emergency Dept. at Altnagelvin Hospital to provide the morning after pill is "a disgrace."  He says that this is a big issue for young people in particular. "We know that most young people have their first sexual activity without using contraception. While we must impress on them the need to use condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases, we also need to make sure that lack of money does not stop them getting the morning after pill.

"An A&E should help women faced with an emergency that could impact the rest of their lives. After all, they will treat a broken finger as an emergency, so why not the threat of an unwanted pregnancy?

"Of course, it is possible to buy the morning after pill over the counter at pharmacies. But this costs £24 ­ that's almost half the weekly benefit of a single person or a quarter of a

The 28 year old Waterside candidate says "This is yet another example of the poor getting the wrong end of the stick. Anyone who cannot find the £24 has to run around looking for a family planning clinic that is open. This can be hard, especially on a holiday weekend.

"The sooner it is taken, the more likely the morning after pill will work. But Altnagelvin's refusal to provide emergency contraception makes it much more difficult for women to act responsibly. 

Mr. McAuley says that the Department of Health confirms that Hospitals in Belfast, Antrim, Craigavon supply emergency contraception in their A&E Departments. "So why not Altnagelvin?"

"The answer is in a survey carried out by the University of Ulster ten years ago. It found that two thirds of doctors in the Western Health Board area refuse to provide emergency contraception for 'moral' reasons. Clearly, those in charge of the A&E in Altnagelvin are allowed to put their 'morality' ahead of women's health needs.

"I have spoken to doctors and nurses in Altnagelvin who say they would be happy to provide the morning after pill but fundamentalists, both Protestant and Catholic, who are their superiors, will not permit this to become A&E policy.

"Those who think emergency contraception is wrong need not use it ­ but they should allow other women to make up their own minds", says the SEA candidate.





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