Forum Brief: Abortion Services

Women should have better access to abortion services, a leading sexual health charity has argued.

In a report published on Wednesday, the Family Planning Association called for an end to the need for two doctors' signatures before a termination is performed.

Forum Response: Marie Stopes International

Tony Kerridge spokesperson for Marie Stopes International told ePolitix.com: "Marie Stopes International firmly endorses the Family Planning Association report, and echoes its calls for a radical overhaul of the NHS abortion services and law.

"As a leading provider of abortion outside the NHS, Marie Stopes International has for many years been a pioneering force in improving services and extending women's choices.

"In offering women a wider range of choices and faster access to high quality services, Marie Stopes International has stretched the boundaries of the 1967 Abortion Act to its limitation. Innovations have included the development of a demedicalised model for early abortion provision in a free standing non hospital setting and the introduction of a minimally invasive manual vacuum aspiration technique for early abortions that have revolutionised practice and have been warmly received by thousands of women who daily choose to access these services.

"If we are bring about true equality of access, improve wait times, widen choice and ensure that the decision to have an abortion rests solely with the person most affected and most capable of making it - the woman concerned - a new legislative framework for the 21st century will be required.

"Models of good service are in place in some NHS regions, thanks largely to collaboration between the health authorities and Marie Stopes International, which has improved the quality of services and shortened waiting times.

However not all areas have followed the example of forward thinking Primary Care Trusts and the provision of abortion is still very patchy, as the FPA report points out. Whilst we await long overdue reform of the law, much can be done to improve services for many women in Great Britain, provided the necessary financial resources and commitment to working with specialist providers such as Marie Stopes International are made."

Forum Response: CARE

Joanna Thompson, spokeswoman for CARE told ePolitix.com: "CARE has a network of 150 pregnancy crisis centres, located in local communities all over the country and offering help on a daily basis to those who are trying to deal with a crisis pregnancy.

"Our objective is to support women in whatever choice they make with information and counselling. This includes post abortion support, something that the FPA's proposals sadly seem to lack.

"The FPA report calls for a time limit of 72 hours for an abortion from the time a woman first contacts a health professional. However, we have found many women need time to be able to process accurate information so as to make an informed choice, rather than one based on panic or fear.

"By removing the need for doctors' signatures, the FPA proposals would also take away the legal and medicial protection currently in place for women. This overemphasis on haste can only reduce the importance andemotional consequences of the decision for all involved.

"Abortion is never the only option, and rarely the best option for women. Real choice comes with access and information on all the options available to women, including adoption and support should the mother wish to complete the pregnancy and raise the child as her own.

"We work by supporting our clients through the 'crisis point' of discovering the unplanned pregnancy. The FPA's proposed system would result in women accessing abortions without appropriate non-judgemental counselling, advice or information. This is deeply undesirable."