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.
BPAS has reported that its abortion services are “under considerable pressure” and that the number of calls it has been receiving increased by about a third in the six months March to September this year. During the same period our volunteers were making mystery client calls to BPAS and MSI Reproductive Choices, and we found... Continue Reading →
In its SmPC (summaries of product characteristics), Ranbaxy states that there is a non-negligible risk of medical abortion treatment failure, as follows: The non-negligible risk of failure, which occurs in 4.5 to 7.8% of the cases, makes the follow-up visit mandatory in order to check that abortion is complete.The patient should be informed that surgical... 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.
In the UK, providers of abortion services must comply with the Required Standard Operating Procedures (“the RSOPs”) set out in this document issued by the Department of Health and Social Care. RSOP12 details the information which must be provided to the woman, and how: Women must be given impartial, accurate and evidence-based information (verbal and written)... Continue Reading →
This is my response to an article in the New Statesman on December 15th, 2020. My main concern is the assertion that abortion has become safer since the introduction of telemedicine in April. The article states that there has been just one complication in more than 23,000 abortions at home, and that is clearly wrong,... Continue Reading →
I was recently asked: “…do we really want women to spend more time in the care of abortion providers? Why would we campaign for that?” This was asked in the context of the public consultation into the ‘Future Arrangements For Early Medical Abortion at Home’, currently being conducted in Scotland. My answer is unequivocal: “Yes,... Continue Reading →
Percuity 