Publication of Responses to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on Future Arrangements for Early Medical Abortion at Home

9 June 2021

Following the Scottish Government’s consultation at the end of the last year on telemedical abortion services, the individual consultation responses have now been published and can be viewed at: https://consult.gov.scot/population-health/early-medical-abortion-at-home/consultation/published_select_respondent

BSACP’s response is #774985768 (pp. 36/42 of the responses) and is included here: Scottish Government COVID measures consultation BSACP Final 05012021

A detailed analysis of the submitted responses, and a final decision as to whether the introduction of the telemedical abortion services is to be made permanent, are still awaited from the Scottish Government.

Report on the Working of the 2019 Abortion Law in the Isle of Man

3 June 2021

A report on the working of the 2019 abortion law in the Isle of Man was published today. A submission by BSACP forms Appendix 5 (pp. 21–31) of this short report on the implementation of the Abortion Reform Act 2019 (of Tynwald) by the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee. The Committee’s report has been published on the Tynwald website as part of the papers for the 15 June 2021 sitting of Tynwald Court.

The papers, including this Report, will be linked to an Order Paper, which can be viewed at: https://www.tynwald.org.im/about/tynwald/Pages/Business.aspx

Alternatively, the report entitled “Social Affairs Policy Review Committee Second Report for the Session 2020-21: The Implementation of the Abortion Reform Act 2019” can be accessed at:
https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/20182021/ 

FIAPAC Webinar on ‘Telemedical Abortion During and Beyond the Pandemic - Lessons Learned from Implementing Telemedicine?’ on 18 June 2021

23 May 2021

The International Federation of Abortion and Contraception Professionals (FIAPAC) is organising a webinar on ‘Telemedical Abortion During and Beyond the Pandemic – Lessons Learned from Implementing Telemedicine?’ on Friday 18 June 2021, 16:00–17:30 CET (Central European Time) with presentations from selected European countries.

Chairpersons: Kristina Gemzell Danielsson (Sweden)/Christian Fiala (Austria)

Programme

16:05–16:25  Telemedicine abortion in France: why women choose at-home abortion via teleconsultation?  Hazal Atay and Danielle Hassoun (France)
16:25–16:40  Behind the scenes. Vulnerable populations in abortion access in Germany.  Margit Endler (Sweden)
16:40–16:55  Starting a telemedical project within the German legal framework.  Jana Maeffert (Germany)
16:55–17:10  Maximising safety in telemedicine abortion care.  John Reynolds-Wright (Scotland)
17:10–17:30  Q&A and Closing remarks

The webinar is free for paid-up (2021) members. If you are not an FIAPAC member, please arrange your FIAPAC membership first before registering for the webinar!

The membership fee is 60 euros (2021) or 100 euros (including 2022).

Online FIAPAC membership form: https://www.fiapac.org/en/home/membership/

Webinar registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gC1wh1nCSRm_x5VbMoI-yg

 

 

 

Women on Web Telemedicine Abortion Service Celebrating 15 Years

10 May 2021

For 15 years now, Women on Web, the first ever telemedical abortion service, has made sure that pregnant people around the world have access to safe abortions. The first abortion Women on Web provided was to a woman living in Lisbon, who completed the online consultation on 10 May 2006, when abortion was still illegal in Portugal.

Since then, Women on Web has supported over 650,000 people with information; provided over 100,000 people with access to abortions by mail; answered over a million emails in 25 different languages; contributed to nearly 20 different case studies and research papers that have informed the medical community and overcome censuring by governments and corporations alike. This list doesn’t take into account the ripple effect of influencing the reversal and revision of policies and government bans in countries like Ireland and Northern Ireland, much less the impact on the lives of countless women and families.

Press release: https://www.womenonweb.org/en/page/20954/women-on-web-telemedicine-abortion-service-turns-15

WoW Website: https://www.womenonweb.org

ACOG Committee Opinion on ‘Caring for Patients who have Experienced Trauma’

12 April 2021

An article on managing patients who have experienced trauma – an important issue that is often not given the attention it deserves – authored by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Health Care for Undeserved Women has been published in the April 2021 issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Caring for Patients Who Have Experienced Trauma ACOG April 2021

Northern Ireland Abortion and Contraception Taskgroup (NIACT) Report

31 March 2021

The Northern Ireland Abortion and Contraception Taskgroup (NIACT) has published a new report, outlining a vision for how education and healthcare providers can support sexual and reproductive health. The report is published today (31 March 2021), one year after abortion regulations came into effect in Northern Ireland.  

Written by a multidisciplinary group of doctors, nurses, midwives, general practitioners (GPs) and academics, it recommends a new approach to relationships and sex education (RSE), contraception and abortion care.  It urges the Executive to commission and fund these services without delay.  

The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) fully supports the NIACT Taskforce.

Full report: https://www.fsrh.org/documents/niact-full-report-31st-march-2021/

NIACT Report on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Northern Ireland March 2021 Executive Summary: NIACT Executive Summary 31 March 2021

BSACP Webinar on ‘Nursing in Abortion Care: What’s New?’, Wednesday 28 April 2021, 6.30–7.30pm

30 March 2021

BSACP is pleased to announce that online registration for the Society’s first webinar in 2021 is now open!

Webinar Title: Nursing in Abortion Care: What’s New?

Time: Wednesday 28 April 2021, 6.30–7.30pm

DESCRIPTION

This webinar will cover a range of timely topics of relevance to nurses working in abortion care including recent Royal College of Nursing (RCN) guidance, training, and service leadership.

Key webinar themes will include updates on the new RCN guideline and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) Special Skills Module (SSM) for nurses, plus practical aspects of running a service and integrating RCN/FSRH/other new guidance. There will be brief presentations on each theme followed by a Q&A session.

SPEAKERS/PANELLISTS

Ruth Bailey, Advanced Nurse Practitioner Sexual Health; member RCN Women’s Health Forum

Rebecca McKay, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Early Pregnancy and Abortion Lead for Peterborough City Hospital; Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Abortion Module Guardian; Council member BSACP

Michael Nevill, Director of Nursing and Quality at British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS); member RCN Women’s Health Forum

Laura Rutherford, Lead Nurse Emergency Gynaecology Assessment Unit at Peterborough City Hospital; Council member BSACP

The panel will be moderated by Patricia Lohr, Medical Director and Director of the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, BPAS; Council member BSACP

 

Registration for the live webinar is open to BSACP members and non-members. There is no charge to attend the live webinar. BSACP members who are unable to join the live event or who wish to view/revisit the webinar at their convenience will be able to access a recording in the members’-only section of the BSACP website.

BSACP membership information is available at: https://bsacp.org.uk/about-bsacp/membership/about-bsacp-membership-information/

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tu9WCI4sQQOAm_aApgCoKQ

***REGISTER ONLINE NOW TO GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE (maximum 100 attendees)***

Once your registration has been approved, you will receive a confirmatory e-mail containing information about joining the webinar.

Joint BASHH & FSRH Virtual Conference on SRH and HIV on Thursday 11 March 2021

1 March 2021

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) have teamed up to host a joint virtual conference on Thursday 11 March 2021 from 1.00–6.00pm.

This half-day event features expert speakers covering a wide range of clinical topics from the worlds of sexual and reproductive health, and HIV. Topics covered include:

  • Public Health
  • Menopause and PMS
  • Genitourinary Medicine
  • Contraception

Tickets are available now, and prices start at £30 for students/trainees/nurses: https://www.fsrh.org/events/joint-bashh-and-fsrh-virtual-conference-2021/

Tickets give access to conference content for up to 1 month after the event.

Latest Evidence on No-Test Medical Abortion

19 February 2021

The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) is proud to have initiated, and even more delighted to report, the publication today of the UK’s largest abortion care study, providing definitive data from 52,142 women to support no-test medical abortion via telemedicine.

This study proves without a doubt that early medical abortion (EMA) at home using telemedicine is as safe and effective as traditional methods, and highly valued by the women who participated in the research.

Since the introduction of telemedicine EMA, waiting times and gestations have significantly decreased, with 40% of abortions now provided at less than 6 weeks. Being able to access abortion care earlier in pregnancy has also reduced the low complication rate even further. There was no evidence of inferiority (treatment success 98.8% after telemedicine, 98.2% before), very low incidence of serious adverse events (0.02% vs 0.04%) and equivalent detection of ectopic pregnancy (incidence 0.2%). Patient acceptability was high (96% satisfied, with 80% reporting a future preference for telemedicine).

Providers have reported a major uplift in safeguarding disclosures, including from survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Crucially, telemedicine has provided a lifeline for vulnerable women and girls who cannot attend consultations in person during the pandemic.

The study’s conclusion was that “a telemedicine-hybrid model for medical abortion that includes no-test telemedicine and treatment without an ultrasound is effective, safe, acceptable, and improves access to care”.

The study is available at: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.16668

Two other relevant UK studies have recently been published. One assessed patient acceptability of telemedicine in 1243 patients, confirming that most patients would still chose telemedicine even if COVID-19 were no longer an issue. Reassuringly this study found that nobody reported they were unable to talk privately, and the conclusion was “telemedicine EMA is a valued, private, convenient and more accessible option that is highly acceptable for patients seeking an abortion, especially those for whom in-clinic visits are logistically or emotionally challenging. Evidence that this pathway would be a first choice again in future for most patients supports the case to make telemedicine EMA permanent”.

This study is available at: https://srh.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/17/bmjsrh-2020-200954

Colleagues in Scotland have also published their experience of telemedicine. This was a smaller cohort study (n=663) but with robust methodology that followed up all their patients and cross-checked the NHS records to ensure all complications were recorded. Their reported treatment success rate was identical to the English study at 98%. Their conclusion was that “this model of telemedicine abortion without routine ultrasound is safe, and has high efficacy and high acceptability among women”.

This study is available at: Telemedicine medical abortion at home under 12 weeks’ gestation: a prospective observational cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic | BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health

In conclusion, BSACP now asks the UK government to listen to the data, evidence and voices collected and make telemedicine a permanent service so that women and pregnant people can continue to choose the abortion care they want, need and deserve.

NICE Publishes Abortion Care Quality Standard

12 February 2021

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published an abortion care quality standard, which sets out priorities to improve the care offered by abortion services, on 26 January 2021.

The standard has six statements aimed at service providers, commissioners, health, public health and social care practitioners and the public. It focuses on a number of priority areas including making abortion services easy to access and offering women the option to have early medical abortion at home.

  • Statement 1 – Healthcare commissioners and providers work together to make abortion services easy to access.
  • Statement 2 – Women who request an abortion are given a choice between medical and surgical abortion to take place up to and including  23+6 weeks’ gestation.
  • Statement 3 – Women who decide to go ahead with an abortion have the option to have the procedure within 1 week of assessment.
  • Statement 4 – Women having a medical abortion up to and including 9+6  weeks’ gestation are given the option to take misoprostol at home.
  • Statement 5 – Women having an abortion who want contraception receive their chosen method before discharge, either at the time of their abortion or as soon as possible after expulsion of the pregnancy.
  • Statement 6 – Women having an abortion are given advice on how to access care and support after the abortion.

NICE’s full abortion care quality standard is available here: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs199

NB. For simplicity of language the quality standard uses the term women throughout, but this should be taken to also include people who do not identify as women but who are pregnant.