New crisis pregnancy service opens in west Cork

A NEW crisis pregnancy counselling service that will offer support and contraception to women of all ages was launched in west Cork yesterday.

The free service has been set up in Skibbereen to fill a major gap in the provision of crisis pregnancy services in the area.

The West Cork and Beara Women’s Network conducted research in 2003 which was followed by further research by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) in 2004.

Their combined work showed that providing such a counselling service in the locality would reduce the sense of panic for a woman facing a crisis pregnancy.

Both groups then combined with the Health Service Executive (HSE) South to develop the new service with funding from the CPA.

Ger Reaney, a local health manager with the HSE South, said a lack of awareness of what services are available can be a real barrier to someone seeking help.

“Raising the awareness of the service in the west Cork area is vital if it is to reach those who need it,” he said.

“The launch is important as it draws attention to the service and informs people about the kind of help, advice and support that is available to them.”

CPA director, Caroline Spillane, said a woman with a crisis pregnancy needs to be able to access counselling services in her local area.

“One of the main priorities for the agency is to expand the number of counselling services available throughout the country, particularly in rural areas,” she said.

The CPA was set up to implement a strategy to address the issue of crisis pregnancy in Ireland.

It aims to reduce the number of crisis pregnancies through education, advice and contraceptive services.

It also offers counselling and supports to try and reduce the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion.

The new west Cork service will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4pm to 5pm, and will be staffed by professional counsellors.

Leaflets and posters advertising the service will be distributed across the region in the coming weeks.

West Cork Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service: Locall 1890 252 359 or free text “list” to 50444.