Co-Chair's Updates and 2026/27 Strategy Overview

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2026 BSACP Conference | Speakers' Bios

Michael Nevill

Michael Nevill MSc RN is a senior healthcare leader and Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience in nursing and healthcare management, specialising in abortion care services. He has held multiple executive roles in leading reproductive health organisations, including Director of Nursing and Director of Client Experience at BPAS, and currently serves as Clinical Director at NUPAS. His work has been pivotal in shaping clinical strategy, safeguarding practices, and client engagement within abortion services across the UK.

Michael is a Council Member of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP), a professional advisor to NICE, and a member of the RCN Women’s Health Forum Steering Committee. He has led initiatives on quality improvement, infection prevention, and clinical service provision in abortion care, and was commended by the Royal College of Nursing for his advocacy in the decriminalisation of abortion. A published researcher and frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Michael continues to influence policy and practice in abortion care.

Namita Kumar

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Professor Namita Kumar, MBChB, MD, MMEd, FRCP, FAcadMEd, Postgraduate Dean, Consultant Rheumatologist. Involvement in medical education started when Namita was a doctor in training. In 2003, Namita was appointed to the board of the Postgraduate Medical and Education Training Board, the first UK regulator of Postgraduate Medical Education. In 2010, she was appointed as Foundation School director for Northern Deanery, in 2013 to the post of Postgraduate dean for HEE NE and in 2019, Regional Postgraduate Dean for HEE North East and Yorkshire. She was made an Honorary Clinical Professor by Durham University in 2014, Newcastle and Sunderland Universities, and UCLAN in 2017. She was a council member of the Academy of Medical Educators from 2014 to 2017, and a Councillor and then Trustee Councillor of the Royal College of Physicians from 2017 to 2022. She was appointed as a trustee for NCEPOD in January 2022 and has chaired English Postgraduate Deans since 2020. She is also the co-chair of the DEMEC organising committee. Namita was appointed to the new role of NHSE National Dean for Delivery of PGMDE Risk and Business Oversight in Dec 2023.

Zara Haider

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Dr Zara Haider, CoSRH President, is a Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, working at the Wolverton Centre, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.

She took up this consultant post in October 2012, after completing subspecialty training at the Margaret Pyke Centre and spending a year as a UCL Darzi Fellow.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Haider has previously served on the council of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) as Vice President Membership and Workforce, and has held roles including Chair of its Events Committee, CSRH Training Programme Director for London and KSS, and she is an Educational Supervisor. Professionally, she holds qualifications including FCSRH, FRCOG, Diploma in Genitourinary Medicine (Dip GUM), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership in Healthcare.

Stephen O’Brien

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Dr Stephen O’Brien is a Consultant Obstetrician with an interest in Foetal Medicine. He completed his specialist training in the West of England, including a PhD in operative vaginal birth and intra-partum in trials methodology at the University of Bristol.

His interests include the diagnosis and management of foetal abnormalities, placenta accreta spectrum disease, women at risk of preterm birth, operative vaginal birth and the provision of abortion care to all women who need it. He is a clinical member of the South West Placenta Accreta Network and is the national co-ordinator for training in operative vaginal birth for the RCOG. He is also the Lead Clinician for the South West Complex Termination of Pregnancy Network.

Kim Raynsford

Aimee Taylor

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Aimee Taylor, MSc ACP, Dip CORSH, RN, NMP, is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner with over 18 years of experience in abortion and reproductive healthcare within both the independent sector and the NHS. Since 2008, she has specialised in abortion care, developing expertise in advanced clinical assessment, prescribing, ultrasound practice, service development, and quality improvement. Alongside her role at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, she works with the NHS England Midlands Network to support the development and improvement of reproductive healthcare services across the region. Aimee is passionate about advancing women’s health, improving access to care, and delivering the highest standards of patient-centred care.

Rebecca French

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Rebecca is a Professor of Reproductive Health Research & Policy in the Department of Public Health, Environments and Society at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). She is a Public Health researcher with over 30 years of experience, nationally and internationally, in policy-related research, mixed methods, survey design, intervention development and evaluation of complex interventions. Interests include how preferences affect choices in healthcare across the reproductive life-course and how new models of care can be used to promote better sexual and reproductive health. She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship with the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in 2021 for her contribution to research.

Recent work includes the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded SACHA (Shaping Abortion for Change) study to examine how health services be best configured in Britain in response to new directions in abortion care, and the Department of Health and Social Care funded Reproductive Health Survey designed to monitor trends across the reproductive life-course in England. She is a co-investigator with the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Reproductive Health, and has led on a study looking at provision of abortion care for patients with medical complexities, and with the NIHR Policy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, leading on a study on reproductive healthcare access and experiences.

Kate Whitehouse

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Dr Katherine (Kate) Whitehouse is an American-trained doctor, double board-certified in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Complex Family Planning. She has over a decade of expertise in abortion care and sexual health research (SRH) as an academic clinician, Medical Officer at the WHO, and working in independent sector abortion care in Britain. She has authored many peer-reviewed publications on SRH and contributed to national and international guideline development in the US, UK and globally. She is an editor for the European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care and an Evidence Advisor at the British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP). She is passionate about improving women’s lives through high-quality medical care, research & healthcare policy. While she always takes an evidence-based approach, Kate aims to put her patients’ needs at the centre of everything she does. Currently, she works as an abortion provider at MSI Reproductive Choices and NUPAS and also a freelance researcher and medical advisor in FemTech.

ORCID

John Reynolds-Wright

John Reynolds-Wright is a CSO/NES Clinical Lecturer in Sexual and Reproductive Health.

He is one of the Evidence Advisors at BSACP and is the first person to complete the new FSRH Abortion Care Specialist Modules.

Yvonne Neubauer

Jenny Hughes

A woman smiles while standing beside a NUPAS banner displaying information on pregnancy advisory services and patient testimonials.

Jenny Hughes is the lead sonographer at NUPAS and an experienced HCPC-registered advanced practitioner. She has worked across both the NHS and the independent sector, specialising in obstetric, gynaecological, and early pregnancy ultrasound.

Jenny is passionate about improving reproductive healthcare services and ensuring women have access to safe, high-quality, evidence-based care. Her presentation, “To Scan or Not to Scan Prior to Early Medical Abortion”, explores the evolving role of ultrasound in abortion care, examining the balance between clinical evidence, patient safety, accessibility, and patient-centred care.

Deirdre Duffy

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Dr Deirdre Duffy is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Lancaster University with a focus on global social inequalities. Her work concentrates on inequalities in access to abortion and barriers and facilitators to care in restrictive and legally permissive health systems.

Rachel Scott

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Dr Rachel Scott’s research reflects her interdisciplinary background, drawing from demography, epidemiology, sociology and public health and using quantitative and qualitative methods. Her work considers how social-contextual factors, locally and cross-nationally, shape individual sexual and reproductive behaviours, particularly abortion and young people’s experiences, and how reproductive health service provision can best meet people’s needs and preferences. She also works on improving data quality and measurement of sexual behaviour and reproductive health outcomes, including abortion, in surveys.

She joined LSHTM in 2009 to do a Masters in Demography & Health after a BSc in Human Sciences at UCL. Following a couple of years away, working at Inserm (the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research), in Paris and King’s College London, working on two abortion related projects, she returned to LSHTM in 2012 to pursue a PhD in the Department of Population Health, during which she also spent time back at Inserm and working with the Guttmacher Institute in New York.

Discount Codes for BSACP Members | 2026 Conference

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Discount Codes for BSACP Members | Training Courses

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Join the BSACP Education & Training Committee or Conference Committee

The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) is inviting expressions of interest from members who wish to contribute to shaping the future of abortion care education across the UK and beyond. We are recruiting new members to join either the Education & Training Committee or the Conference Committee, both of which play a central role in delivering BSACP’s mission.

To apply, please complete the expression-of-interest form and upload a CV outlining your relevant experience.

Why Join Now?

This is an especially exciting time to get involved:

The Education & Training Committee has recently completed a comprehensive 5-year education vision and strategy for BSACP.
The Conference Committee is beginning preparations for the 2026 BSACP Conference, following the success of our 10-year anniversary conference in October 2025.

Who We’re Looking For

We particularly welcome applications from:

O&G and CSRH Resident Doctors
Nurses and Midwives

These groups represent a key part of our membership, and your insights and experience are vital to the work of both committees.

Commitment and Meeting Structure

Education & Training Committee
- Meets 4 times per year online (2-hour meetings)
- Holds one full-day in-person strategy meeting each year
- All meetings take place after work, typically between 17:00–20:00
Conference Committee
- Meets at least 6 times per year online (1-hour meetings), with additional sessions as needed
- Meetings are typically held between 17:00–20:00

Additional Information

Positions are open to BSACP members only
New members will start in January 2026
Travel expenses for the annual in-person meeting will be reimbursed

If you are passionate about abortion care education and would like to contribute to the development of BSACP’s work, we would be delighted to hear from you. Fill in the form below, or by following this link. The deadline to express interest is Monday, 15 December 2025, 23:59.

2025 BSACP Conference | Speakers' Bios

Michael Nevill

Tracey Masters

Tracey works as an NHS consultant at Homerton Healthcare NHS Trust where she is proud to lead the abortion team serving the diverse population of Hackney in East London – and beyond! She sometimes acts as spokesperson on abortion for FSRH and/or RCOG.

Tracey is a founding member of BSACP and is currently Co-Chair.

Kate Guthrie

A smiling woman stands indoors, dressed in a navy jacket over a white collared shirt.

Kate retired from Hull and East Yorkshire as a Community Sexual and Reproductive Health consultant in 2016. As Specialty Education Vice President of the Faculty (now College) of Sexual and Reproductive Health she was involved in writing the curriculums and Special Skills module for the FSRH and RCOG in abortion provision. She has ceased Women on Web clinical support but still undertakes committee work for the CoSRH. Also one of the original founding ‘gang of five’ and co-chair.

Joanne Fletcher

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Joanne’s career in gynaecology nursing spanned over 30 years. She was the first nurse to lead a NHS abortion service back in the early 1990s, and qualified as a Sonographer in 1998. She worked as a Consultant Nurse In Sheffield for 20 years specialising in early pregnancy and abortion care. During her career Joanne was an expert advisor on abortion and early pregnancy national guidelines for the RCOG, RCN & NICE. Joanne retired from clinical practice in 2021. In 2024 she was awarded a Honorary Fellowship from the RCOG for her outstanding contribution to women’s health care.

Joanne was a founding member of BSACP in 2015 and Co-chair from 2015 to 2021.

Patricia A. Lohr

Patricia trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles followed by a Fellowship in Family Planning & Contraceptive Research and Master’s Degree in Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the Director of Research and Innovation of British Pregnancy Advisory Service. Patricia is widely published and has contributed to evidence-based guidance produced by the RCOG, FSRH, NICE, and Society of Family Planning. She serves as an expert advisor to NICE, Associate Editor for the journal BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, Co-Chair of BSACP, and on the Advisory Group for the charity Abortion Talk.

Kate Whitehouse

ORCID

Maria Fitzgerald

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Professor Maria Fitzgerald is internationally recognised for her pioneering research into the developmental neurobiology of pain, establishing the Fitzgerald Lab at UCL as a world leader in understanding pain in infants and children. After studying Physiological Sciences at Oxford, she completed her PhD at UCL and went on to build her own research group, becoming Professor of Developmental Neurobiology in 1995.

Her contributions have been honoured worldwide: she is a Fellow of both the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society, and has received awards including the Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children’s Pain Relief, the Feldberg Prize, the Bayliss-Starling Prize, and most recently the John J. Bonica Prize for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement in the Basic Science of Pain. Alongside her research, she has played a leading role in shaping national and international scientific strategy through service on key advisory and funding bodies.

Chloe Hanse

Chloe is a mixed methods researcher with expertise in reproductive health, justice, and rights. She holds an MSc in Gender, Development, and Globalisation from the London School of Economics (LSE). Chloe has experience conducting and leading research on topics such as abortion and post-abortion care, health equity, and the intersection of technology and reproductive healthcare. She has contributed to impactful projects at MSI Reproductive Choices, the Global Fund for Women, and UNFPA. Chloe shares the Research and Engagement Lead role at British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) with Rebecca Blaylock, working to advance evidence-based reproductive health policies and practices.

John Reynolds-Wright

John Reynolds-Wright is a CSO/NES Clinical Lecturer in Sexual and Reproductive Health.

He is one of the Evidence Advisors at BSACP and is the first person to complete the new FSRH Abortion Care Specialist Modules.

Victoria Kinkaid

Victoria is an Army doctor with a strong passion for women’s health. She serves as a General Duties Medical Officer at Dalton Barracks and is a member of the Academic Department of Military General Practice, where she researches reproductive health in UK servicewomen. Her most recent study explored servicewomen’s experiences of abortion care and was the first UK research to focus on this important area.

In addition to her clinical role, Victoria holds several military appointments, including serving as the Army lead for the Women’s Health Special Interest Group, which is dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of healthcare for UK servicewomen. She is also a trained Human Security Advisor. In recognition of her work, she was named Woman of the Year 2024 at the Women in Defence Awards.

Beyond the military, Victoria is a mentor, podcast host, and co-founder of The FGM Education Project, a charity that aims to raise awareness of female genital mutilation and support frontline professionals in recognising and managing cases.

Overall, Victoria is committed to bridging the gap between scientific research and accessible information in women’s health, empowering women to make informed decisions about their care.

Danielle Solomon

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Danielle Solomon is a Clinical Fellow at the Institute for Global Health, University College London and a Consultant in Public Health. She holds a medical degree from Oxford University, a Masters in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health from UCL. Prior to specialising in public health, Danielle practiced as a sexual health and HIV physician at the Mortimer Market Centre in central London. She also previously worked as the Technical Advisor for HIV and AIDS at the international NGO Pathfinder International in Boston.

Danielle’s research focuses on unmet need within sexual and reproductive health, with a particular focus on access to contraception and abortion.

Ed Dorman

Smiling man in pink scrubs with a name badge sits at a desk in front of a window and bookshelf.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Abortion care provider and D+E surgeon within the NHS and for BPAS. Appointed consultant in 2000 and working with BPAS since 2018. Co-chair of RCOG Abortion Taskforce, UK board member on FIAPAC Council.

Ed has been providing D+E up to 24 weeks (and beyond) for many years. He is involved in an ongoing campaign to make training and assessment of first and second trimester uterine evacuation a core component of the curriculum in postgraduate training in the UK and is passionate about training and supporting the next generation of providers.

Jonathan Lord

Jonathan is a consultant gynaecologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital where he is clinical lead of the abortion service. He co-chairs the RCOG abortion taskforce and is an immediate past co-chair of BSACP.

Sam Rowlands

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Sam had a career in general practice and then in sexual and reproductive health. He was the first Vice-President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare when it was founded in 1993. He is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Medical Science & Public Health, Bournemouth University.

Sam has had a special interest in abortion for more than 50 years. He has been an active member of FIAPAC since 2004 and was its Secretary for four years. He edited the book ‘Abortion Care’ published by Cambridge University Press in 2014. Sam was one of the ‘gang of five’ who founded BSACP in 2015. He was Secretary of BSACP for its first six years.

2025 Discount Codes for BSACP Members | Conference and Training Courses

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Call to review NICE Anti-D Guidelines

The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) has collaborated with leaders in abortion services across the independent sector and the NHS to call for an urgent review of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on anti-D administration in the context of abortion care [NG140]. The current guideline state, for people who have Rhesus-negative blood type:

Do not offer anti-D prophylaxis to women undergoing medical abortion up to and including 10 weeks’ gestation.
Consider anti-D prophylaxis for women undergoing surgical abortion up to and including 10 weeks’ gestation.
Offer anti-D prophylaxis to all women undergoing abortion after 10 weeks’ gestation.

Recently published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the commentary highlights that these guidelines are out of step with international standards and the latest evidence, which support omitting anti-D after abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation regardless of method. The current NICE recommendations place an unnecessary strain on limited healthcare resources and create additional burdens for individuals accessing abortion care.

The commentary reinforces previous requests by BSACP members involved in NICE’s guideline committee for the recommendations to be reviewed.

BSACP urges NICE to prioritise a review of these recommendations to align UK practice with evidence-based, internationally recognised guidelines and enhance care for those seeking abortion services in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

2024 BSACP Council Elections - Voting

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