Abortion services will be available in Ireland from today following historic referendum

Abortion services will be provided in Ireland for the first time from today which follows last year's historic referendum to legalise abortion.

The services will be provided by the Health Service Executive, through GPs or family planning services, and in maternity units and hospitals across the country, and abortion care will be free of charge to people who need it.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health Simon Harris described today as a 'momentous day' for Irish women, and he believes that 80% of all terminations will take place in local communities with an estimated 165 GPS signed up to provide such services.

A new HSE Freephone line will now be staffed by trained professional counsellors from 9am this morning along with a brand new information website, Myoptions.ie The helpline number is 1800 828 010.

Many hospitals around the country which will provide abortion services include the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street in Dublin and they are accepting referrals for abortion services from 7 January from the catchment area of south Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare.

Other hospitals which have committed to providing services as soon as possible include the Rotunda, Dublin; Cork University Maternity Hospital; University Hospital Galway; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; University Maternity Hospital, Limerick; The Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar; Mayo University Hospital; and University Hospital Waterford.