Independent Consultant. Public health research, data analysis, and commentary on the global provision of sexual and reproductive health and rights; telemedicine and self-managed medical abortion; ethics, policy and payment. Perspective matters.
What is the Global Gag Rule and if you are a UK taxpayer, or a pro-life supporter, why should you care about political issues in the USA? My takeaway: It’s time to stop using our UK taxes to fund international NGOs in their provision of and campaigning for abortion on-demand across Africa. Less than two... Continue Reading →
Foreign Aid Budget Cut. MSI Reproductive Choices, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and UNFPA have each lost significant levels of funding from the UK taxpayer. The Government has decided to withhold £131 million of previously agreed funds from UNFPA and has informed MSI and IPPF that £70m expected in June 2021 for its flagship Women’s Integrated... Continue Reading →
Based on data published in its 2020 financial statement,[1] BPAS was paid £37 million by the NHS, largely for its provision of abortion services; the average fee per abortion was approximately £425. We note that BPAS provides other reproductive health services for which it is paid by the NHS, so this calculation is an estimate,... Continue Reading →
A freedom of information request to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board showed the cost of the pills-by-post service provided by BPAS in 2020 was £76.97 for the consultation, and £344.80 for the abortion treatment, a total of £421.77.
Cost of Abortions in England 2018Download Freedom of information responses show that in 2018, NHS England paid £96 million for abortion services, at an overall average cost of £510 per abortion. From BPAS published financial statements[1] and a number of FOI responses, we can derive that the average price charged to the NHS by the... Continue Reading →
On 23 March 2021, I presented at an online briefing hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group for MPs from across the UK, along with politicians from the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd. This was an opportunity to share some of the findings from our recent freedom of information investigation. Led by Co-Chair of the... Continue Reading →
On 16 March 2021, I was interviewed for the 40 Days for Life Podcast, in which we discussed: How I justified working in the abortion industry--and my exodus from itMy advice for those still working in the abortion industryThe impact 40 Days for Life vigils make on abortion facilities and abortion workers You can listen... Continue Reading →
If you are going to use reduced waiting times to substantiate your preference for telemedicine abortion, then you need to make sure that you are comparing like-for-like. It is wrong to compare the elapsed time from first contact to in-clinic dispensing, with the time from first contact to posting the abortion pills; posting is not... Continue Reading →
Caroline Gazet, UK Clinical Director for MSI Reproductive Choices, says that she is both saddened and angered by the term ‘DIY abortion’. This made me smile. It is ironic for a senior member of the Marie Stopes team to complain about others using such terminology to describe abortion at-home when they themselves are fixated on... Continue Reading →
On 04 March 2021, I was invited by Christian Concern to give a briefing to a cross-party group of politicians. This was an opportunity to share some of the findings from our recent freedom of information investigation. You can download my slides and watch the briefing here; there is also a link to the full... Continue Reading →
Pills-by-post has brought notable change for vulnerable women living with an abusive partner at home. The approval for telemedicine abortion, in which the woman does not need to first visit a clinic, has made it much easier for an abusive partner to coerce a vulnerable woman into having an abortion in the privacy of her... Continue Reading →
