Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.
support today
Social Justice

Early 'pills by post' abortions service could be made permanent by MPs

MPs will vote on whether or not to keep early telemedical abortions after the House of Lords passed an amendment to the Health and Care Bill.

An amendment that would allow pregnant women to undertake medical abortions at home up to ten weeks.

MPs are set to vote on whether to allow pregnant women to undertake early ‘pills by post’ medical abortions at home, after the House of Lords passed an amendment to the Health and Care Bill.

The English government had already scrapped at-home early medical abortions after deciding not to extend temporary legislation brought in over the pandemic. It expires at the end of August, after which women will have to attend an abortion clinic in person to receive the treatment.

But the amendment to the Health and Care Bill, added by Tory peer Baroness Sugg, would update The Abortion Act to make the home of a pregnant woman an approved place to receive the medical care up to 10 weeks.

Campaigners are urging people to write to their MP asking them to support the amendment, and argue that there is “no reason for telemedicine and self-managed abortions not to become a permanent healthcare provision.”

One of those campaigns is the online forum for mothers, Mumsnet, who are encouraging people to tweet their local MP, using the hashtag #KeepTelemedicalAbortion. Justine Roberts, founder and CEO of Mumsnet told The Big Issue: “When we asked Mumsnet users, 77 per cent of them were in favour of retaining telemedical abortion permanently. MPs should listen to women (and pretty much all the medical experts) and vote to retain the provision of telemedical abortion next week”.

“Victims of domestic abuse, and women who live with controlling partners, for example, may be unable to leave the house to attend in-person consultations,” says Abortion Rights.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

“Cost of travel, cost of childcare and time off work all mean that women in lower socio-economic groups have to overcome many barriers to access abortion services if telemedicine is not an option.”

The Department for Health and Social Care said the majority of the 18,000 plus consultation responses it received when deciding whether to extend the temporary legislation were in favour of ending the service. Domestic abuse and coercion of women was raised as a concern.

But the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) says: “This decision is a political one that discriminates against women, and not one based on sound medical evidence.”

When proposing the amendment, Baroness Sugg told the Lords: “If accepted, it would maintain the existing provision of at-home early medical abortion following a telephone or video consultation with a clinician.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

View all
Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
Cost of living crisis

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

Measles, whooping cough and infection: Why children's health is getting worse in the UK
a child having pulse checked
Child poverty

Measles, whooping cough and infection: Why children's health is getting worse in the UK

The fight to keep two libraries in two of Liverpool's most deprived areas: 'It would be a grievous blow'
A protest sign at Dovecot Muli Activity Centre in Liverpool
Libraries

The fight to keep two libraries in two of Liverpool's most deprived areas: 'It would be a grievous blow'

Premier League clubs strike new shirt sponsor deals with gambling firms despite looming ban
A composite of Premier League shirts for the 25/26 season including Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa. Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is also pictured
Football

Premier League clubs strike new shirt sponsor deals with gambling firms despite looming ban

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know