The House of Commons yesterday voted to make telemedicine for early abortion care permanent in England. The vote has been warmly welcomed by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) as it will result in improved access to essential reproductive healthcare for girls and women across the country.
Yesterday’s vote was the result of an amendment to the Health and Care Bill, initially tabled by Baroness Liz Sugg in the House of Lords. It reverses the Government’s decision last month to end access to the telemedical pathway after 30 August this year.
The amendment will mean that women will have continued access to home use of the first pill used for an early medical abortion (mifepristone), following a virtual consultation with a qualified nurse or midwife. The vote brings England into line with plans set out by the Welsh Government.
Dr Asha Kasliwal, President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said:
“The evidence shows that telemedicine is safe, effective, timely, more accessible than the alternative and preferred by most women.
“We are delighted that Parliament has chosen to listen and respond to the strength of the medical evidence, and the views of women and organisations working to support reproductive health.
“We salute the parliamentarians who have voted to stand up for the rights of girls and women to access an essential form of sexual and reproductive healthcare.
“And we hope to see a continued focus on the needs of women in the publication of both the Women’s Health Strategy and Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy in the Spring.”
Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“We are delighted that MPs have voted in favour of the amendment, which follows the Welsh Government’s decision to make telemedicine for early medical abortion a permanent feature of abortion care in England.
“This is a vital decision that protects women’s rights to access the healthcare they deserve and gives them the choice of accessing early abortion care at home.
“We would like to thank all the campaigners who have helped to make this possible as well as the MPs who voted yesterday to champion women’s rights and who listened to the medical evidence that telemedicine for early medical abortion is safe, enables women to access treatment sooner, and is a service that many women prefer.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Catrin Hughes, APPG and External Affairs Manager at FSRH via chughes@fsrh.org / +44(0)20 3794 5310
Contact the RCOG press office on +44 (0)7986 183167 or email pressoffice@rcog.org.uk
Notes to editors
- Prior to the introduction of this pathway in March 2020, anyone seeking an early medical abortion would be required to attend an in-person appointment and take mifepristone within a clinic, with the second pill (misoprostol) being taken at home.
- At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministers in England, Scotland, and Wales granted temporary permission for early medical abortion treatment to be received by post following a telemedical consultation to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. This move has allowed more than 100,000 women to end pregnancies from the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
- There is overwhelming evidence that allowing women to use the two pills required for an early medical abortion at home has created a safe and more effective service. The largest ever study of UK abortion care analysed the outcomes of more than 50,000 early medical abortions that took place in England, Scotland and Wales between January and June 2020 and found that with the introduction of the telemedicine service:
- Waiting times for abortion treatment improved from 10.7 days to 6.5 days
- Women were able to receive care much earlier in their pregnancy, with 40% of abortions provided at less than six weeks.
- An independent poll, conducted by Savanta Com-Res, shows that the great majority of women and pregnant people in the UK would like to continue to have the option to access early medical abortion care via telemedicine.
About FSRH
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.
About the RCOG
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is a medical charity that champions the provision of women’s healthcare in the UK and beyond. It is dedicated to encouraging the study and advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. It does this through postgraduate medical education and training and the publication of clinical guidelines and reports on aspects of the specialty and service.