Approval for Home Use of Misoprostol in England from 1 January 2019
The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) welcomes the approval for home use of misoprostol which will improve the care for over 100,000 women who require an early medical abortion each year. Provision of this service can start as soon as the approval order is signed, which is expected with effect from 1 January 2019 and will be published on the gov.uk website on 27/28 December. Until it is published by the government please note that this is embargoed and should remain confidential to be used for planning purposes within individual services.
It is important to note that the approval permits the use of misoprostol by the woman where she “usually resides”. Whilst it will continue to remain lawful for all women (who fulfil the grounds under the Abortion Act) to administer misoprostol within the boundary of a licensed premises (e.g. hospital or clinic) prior to her then returning home to expel the pregnancy, there are almost no scenarios other than patient choice where this would be clinically preferable to her taking misoprostol at home. New guidelines are available on the BSACP (RCOG – BSACP – FSRH early medical abortion at home guideline) and RCOG websites.
The law requires health professionals to act “in good faith” but they are not expected to have legal knowledge as to what may constitute “usually resides”, nor to have any need to confirm the woman’s residential status or to police its use. They simply need to act in good faith based on what they know of the woman’s history and circumstances. The government have pledged to hold a consultation once the outcome of the appeal in Scotland is known to review whether the approval could be modified to further improve the care for women.
Jonathan Lord and Jo Fletcher (BSACP Co-Chairs)
BSACP Comment on the Potential Restriction of Second-Trimester Abortion in Norway
The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) offers its support to our Norwegian colleagues following the announcement that Norway’s prime minister is proposing a debate to restrict abortion after 12 weeks, even where there is severe fetal anomaly. The summary given in an editorial in the BMJ on 30 November 2018 is particularly concerning as it suggests the proposals are not arising from political, public or clinical concerns, but are the result of coalition bargaining to secure support of a minority party in order to continue in government. Women’s health and their right to safe reproductive healthcare should never be a commodity that is traded for political advantage.
‘Liberating Women – Removing Barriers and Increasing Access to Safe Abortion Care’
International Federation of Professional Abortion and Contraception Associates (FIAPAC) 13th Conference, Nantes, France, 14–15 September 2018
This was a successful conference attended by just over 450 delegates from 50 countries. Our very own Sharon Cameron is the current President of FIAPAC and her stamp was firmly on the programme. The title, ‘Liberating women – removing barriers and increasing access to safe abortion care’, was fully addressed by the varied sessions. The programme was intense but there were adequate pauses for networking during which you could feel the buzz in the atmosphere. You can see the full programme at: https://fiapac.org/media/uploads/20180903-programme-layout-website.pdf
After introductory remarks, we witnessed a stage production of a story of a 14-year-old girl who had been raped. The actors were French healthcare professionals and direction and lighting was done by a professional company. This was a moving drama with no props – only chairs and microphones.
Themes covered in detail in the sessions were laws, policies, strategies, stigma, conscientious objection, ethics, travelling for abortion, self-managed abortion, telemedicine, digital technology, pain management, feticide and post-abortion contraception. There were presentations on a wide variety of topics including delivering services in humanitarian settings, in rural areas, for women with complex medical conditions and more. There were in excess of 80 poster presentations and nearly 30 free communications, all of a high standard.
We live in an interconnected world and there is so much to learn from seeing how others do things. Membership of FIAPAC keeps you in touch with what is happening in other countries and is a bargain at €60.00 per year. Just go to: https://fiapac.org/en/home/membership/ to join.
Sam Rowlands
24 October 2018
Abortion Decriminalisation Bill on 23 October 2018
Announcement from Doctors for Choice
On 23rd October 2018, Diana Johnson MP will bring her 10-minute rule bill to parliament to call for decriminalisation of abortion in England, Wales and Northern Ireland up to 24 weeks. BPAS are running the campaign ‘Now for NI‘ in conjunction with this.
Please contact your MPs and ask then to support this, sharing your personal stories and positions will make this more powerful.
You can use the BPAS link: www.nowforni.uk/take-action
Also get tweeting and share far and wide! See below tips from BPAS on sharing on social media and their briefing for more information.
Briefing – Abortion Bill (Final)
Kind regards, Hayley
Secretary, Doctors for Choice UK
Link to social media resources (videos, graphics and gifs):
https://nowforni.uk/social-media-resources/
Hashtag: #nowforNI
Model tweet: In Northern Ireland, abortion is a crime punishable by life in prison. This means women like Emma cannot make their own choices in pregnancy. On 23 October, MPs can vote to change this. Email yours now. #nowforNI https://nowforNI.uk/take-action
+ attach video or graphic, and don’t forget to tag people!
People to tag:
Tag on twitter: @PennyMordaunt @DavidGauke
Tag on Facebook: @Karen Bradley MP @Penny Mordaunt MP @David Gauke @Victoria Atkins MP
Tag on Instagram: @PennyMordauntMP @VictoriaAtkinsMP plus any organisations you think would be influential, friends with lots of followers, influencers, etc!
Curated List of Books About Abortion
Looking for some summer reading?
Check out this new, searchable website of almost 250 books about abortion.
Includes books from over 30 countries, and in 9 languages – mostly French, German, and Spanish.
Want to suggest a book to add? E-mail details to: info@abortion-books.info
This is a pro-choice website. Anti-choice books are not included.
An initiative by: IRHI – Initiative for Reproductive Health Information/Verein IRHI – Initiative zur Information über Reproduktive Gesundheit
Joint BSACP/RSM Conference on 'Abortion: Excellence in Care’, RSM, London, UK - Monday 15 October 2018
The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) and the RSM’s Sexuality & Sexual Health Section are jointly organising a one-day conference on ‘Abortion: Excellence in Care’ to be held at the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) in London, UK on Monday 15 October 2018.
New developments in abortion care, contraception and commissioning processes impact the way abortion and sexual health services are being delivered.
In recent times, the political climate around abortion care has and is changing in the UK. It is important that healthcare professionals working in abortion, sexual health services and general practice are aware of, and understand how, these developments can impact on patient care and patient outcomes.
This conference will bring together a range of experts and health care professionals from all areas of Great Britain to provide a comprehensive overview of current and future concepts in abortion care.
Also running alongside the conference will be the ‘My Body My Life’ travelling exhibition. ‘My Body My Life’ (http://mybody-mylife.org/) is an inspiring exhibition in which women tell their stories in a show of support for one another, and to demonstrate how vital it is to be able to have access and the option to abortion services.
Conference themes include:
• Current best practice in abortion care
• New approaches and developments in abortion care and how this impacts on care delivery
• The impact of commissioning on abortion care and service delivery
• The political climate around the legal framework for abortion care in the UK
• Contraceptive strategies in hard to reach groups
See the full conference programme and register at: http://www.rsm.ac.uk/events/sem01
***Deadline for advance registration is NOW CLOSED.***
BSACP Members Invited to Vote in the BSACP Council Elections
BSACP is seeking to appoint additional Council Members to fill one vacancy on Council as follows: Doctor Member.
Two applications for this vacancy have been received, and BSACP members are now invited to vote for their preferred candidate. Current BSACP members have been e-mailed the candidates’ statements in support of their applications, and all votes need to be submitted to the BSACP Administrator at admin@bsacp.org.uk by the stated deadline.
***VOTING CLOSED – BSACP COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON – WATCH THIS SPACE!***
Nominations Invited for Positions on BSACP Council
The following positions on BSACP Council are open for nominations. All nominations should be submitted on the approved nomination form, with two proposers who are paid-up members of BSACP.
- Co-Chair (2 positions)
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Doctor Member
- Nurse Member
- Trainee Member
- Academic Member
BSACP members who wish to stand for any of these Council positions must submit completed nomination forms to admin@bsacp.org.uk by 15 August 2018. A ballot will be organised for those positions that have more than one nomination. ***Nomination deadline now extended to Friday 31 August 2018.***
***NOMINATIONS NOW CLOSED***
Sam Rowlands (BSACP Secretary)
Nomination form: BSACP Council Elections 2018 nomination form 09082018
Janie Foote
BSACP Administrator
Tel: +44 (0)1243 538106
E-mail: admin@bsacp.org.uk
Website: www.bsacp.org.uk
Criminalised Abortion in UK Obstructs Reflective Choice and Best Care
10 July 2018
“The recent decisions to liberalise abortion laws in the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man have put pressure on the British prime minister, Theresa May, to consider decriminalising abortion in the UK.” In their BMJ editorial, Sandy Goldbeck-Wood and colleagues reason that “the British prime minister has an opportunity to champion evidence based reform of an outdated, ineffective, and unpopular law, with the backing of health professionals and public opinion in Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. They go on to state that: “To do so, despite the threats made against her, would be a memorable act of courage and leadership.”
https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k2928
Home Administration of Misoprostol Now Permissible in Wales
29 June 2018
The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) congratulates Wales, like Scotland, on changing an outdated regulation to permit misoprostol for early medical abortion to be taken at home. Thousands of women annually will now have the option of making one fewer trip to a licensed centre, a trip that is unnecessary on safety grounds, and one that is costly to the woman and to the State. This change permits the procedure to be carried out in the woman’s home (or a place of her own choosing) in comfort and with dignity. BSACP sincerely encourages the Secretary of State for Health to afford women in England the same compassion, dignity and respect.
Kate Guthrie, BSACP Co-Chair, on behalf of BSACP Council