I understand that this can be an incredibly emotive issue, and can fully appreciate the strength of feelings around this matter. In February, the Government announced a six-month extension to temporary arrangements put in place at the beginning of the pandemic that mean women can take both pills for early medical abortion at home.
The temporary approval will end at midnight on 29 August and, from this point, the pre-Covid regulatory requirements for the provision of early medical abortion will be reinstated.
These measures were put in place as part of the public health emergency, in order to address a specific and acute medical need, reducing the risk of transmission of Covid-19, and to ensure that abortion services could continue to be accessed during this unprecedented time. Like many of the other measures brought in around this time they were temporary, and limited to two years.
I know that the Government recognises the sensitivities around abortion, and so I am glad that they consulted thoroughly on whether to make these temporary arrangements permanent, giving everyone an opportunity to input views, evidence and data. I am told that, after careful consideration, the Government has come to the view that the provision of early medical abortion should return to pre-Covid arrangements. I am also assured that the well-being and safety of women requiring access to abortion services has been, and will continue to be, the first and foremost priority.
Thanks to the success of the vaccination programme, we are in a very different position compared to the beginning of the pandemic, however health services have been under increased pressure in recent months. For this reason, the six-month extension has been approved to enable a safe and reliable return to pre-pandemic arrangements and continued access to services.
29/03/2022