24 February 2022
Clare Murphy, Chief Executive at BPAS:
“The government has today confirmed a six month extension for the permission for at-home early medical abortion, and has committed to keeping this matter under review. If, at the end of this six month period, the government were indeed to revoke legal permission for this service it would be a shameful betrayal of women and a decision devoid of both evidence or justice.
Over the next six months we will continue, along with medical experts including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the BMA, and the Royal College of Midwives, to reiterate to the government that removing access to at-home early medical abortion care would be disastrous for women and that to do so would be to wilfully ignore the vast body of clinical evidence that demonstrates that this is a safe, effective, and world-leading service. The revocation of telemedical abortion care would force vulnerable women in the most difficult of circumstances, who cannot access in-clinic treatment, to resort to illegal methods again and face criminal sanction as a result. It is why the service is supported by all leading women’s rights organisations.
The government must stop playing politics with women’s health. It’s time to put the needs of women first.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact press@bpas.org or 07788 725185.
About BPAS
BPAS is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/
In 2021, BPAS launched BPAS Fertility, England’s first not-for-profit fertility service, to provide ethical, evidence-based, person-centred care that supports patients. We provide a safe, high-quality, and accessible service, without profiteering from patients. Our service gives those ineligible for NHS funding an affordable option to access the care they need.
