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Call to improve abortion access
Abortion services should be improved to ensure all women have access to the procedure on the NHS, say national guidelines.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), which produced the new advice, says terminations are a "basic health care need for women".
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), which produced the new advice, says terminations are a "basic health care need for women".
Abortion is a safe procedure that should be funded by the NHS  |
Gillie Penney
|
The report adds that no woman should wait longer than three weeks between referral and having the operation carried out. But it adds that seven days is the "ideal" maximum.
The report was welcomed by pro-choice organisations, but anti-abortion campaigners described the guidelines as "scary".
The report follows a year of consultations by an expert panel and is aimed at influencing the way abortions are provided.
There are around 180,000 terminations performed annually in England and Wales and around 12,000 in Scotland.
A third of women have an abortion before the age of 45, and 98% of these are carried out because the pregnancy threatens the mental or physical health of the woman or her existing children, says the RCOG.
The report found wide variations in the availability and quality of care, saying more than 90% of procedures carried out in England and Wales in 1997 were funded by just 19 of the 105 health authorities.
Safe procedure
Gillie Penney, a fellow of the college and chair of the expert panel, said: "Abortion is a safe procedure that should be funded by the NHS and seen as an integral part of a reproductive and sexual health care service.
"It is a basic health care need for women and should be regarded as such by those who purchase and provide services."
She added that she hoped local health care organisations would use the guidance to ensure they are meeting women's needs.
The guidance recommends:
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service's director of communications Ann Furedi, said: "The development of the guideline is a clear sign that the medical profession, policy makers and society at large are beginning to accept abortion as part of essential reproductive health care."
The Pro-Choice Forum, which backs the right to abortion, welcomed the report and highlighted the conclusion that the procedure does not cause psychological trauma.
The report was welcomed by pro-choice organisations, but anti-abortion campaigners described the guidelines as "scary".
The report follows a year of consultations by an expert panel and is aimed at influencing the way abortions are provided.
There are around 180,000 terminations performed annually in England and Wales and around 12,000 in Scotland.
A third of women have an abortion before the age of 45, and 98% of these are carried out because the pregnancy threatens the mental or physical health of the woman or her existing children, says the RCOG.
The report found wide variations in the availability and quality of care, saying more than 90% of procedures carried out in England and Wales in 1997 were funded by just 19 of the 105 health authorities.
Safe procedure
Gillie Penney, a fellow of the college and chair of the expert panel, said: "Abortion is a safe procedure that should be funded by the NHS and seen as an integral part of a reproductive and sexual health care service.
"It is a basic health care need for women and should be regarded as such by those who purchase and provide services."
She added that she hoped local health care organisations would use the guidance to ensure they are meeting women's needs.
The guidance recommends:
- Women should be offered the procedure within seven days of a request for an abortion being agreed
- Day care as a cost-effective model for terminations
- Treatment of women admitted for abortions separate from other gynaecological patients
- Services should offer a choice of recommended methods of termination
- Future contraception advice to be given before a woman is discharged after an abortion
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service's director of communications Ann Furedi, said: "The development of the guideline is a clear sign that the medical profession, policy makers and society at large are beginning to accept abortion as part of essential reproductive health care."
The Pro-Choice Forum, which backs the right to abortion, welcomed the report and highlighted the conclusion that the procedure does not cause psychological trauma.
I don't think even the most liberal interpretation of the legislation would interpret abortion as being basic health care |
Pro-Life Alliance
|
Ellie Lee, at the forum, said: "Hopefully the RCOG guideline will be taken seriously and the psychological effects of abortion will now be discussed in less sensationalist terms."
But the Pro-Life Alliance called the findings "absolute nonsense". A spokeswoman added: "It is very scary stuff because there is a presumption that abortion is basic health care.
"I don't think even the most liberal interpretation of the legislation would interpret abortion as being basic health care."
She was concerned that the guidance would lead to an increase in the number of abortions carried out.
Professor Jack Scarisbrick, chairman of the anti-abortion charity Life, added: "There is growing evidence of links between induced abortion and breast cancer, psychiatric illness, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical incompetence."
But the Pro-Life Alliance called the findings "absolute nonsense". A spokeswoman added: "It is very scary stuff because there is a presumption that abortion is basic health care.
"I don't think even the most liberal interpretation of the legislation would interpret abortion as being basic health care."
She was concerned that the guidance would lead to an increase in the number of abortions carried out.
Professor Jack Scarisbrick, chairman of the anti-abortion charity Life, added: "There is growing evidence of links between induced abortion and breast cancer, psychiatric illness, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical incompetence."
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