Email Your MP: Make Abortion Telemedicine a Permanent Healthcare Provision

Use this link to write to your MP today: https://www.writetothem.com/

Dear _______________ MP

I wanted to write to ask you to add your support for safe, free, legal and accessible abortion. At the moment, telemedicine and the ability to take early medical abortion pills at home have been introduced as temporary measures. 

For many reasons, these measures should be made a permanent healthcare provision and much of the new research has highlighted the benefits of home use.

One in three women in this country will have an abortion in her lifetime, so this provision has widescale implications.

Telemedicine and self-managed abortions were made available as a temporary measure in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These services have been a lifeline for thousands of people. 

Since its introduction, telemedicine has noticeably improved abortion access. According to a paper published in The British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, waiting times between consultation and treatment have decreased from 10.7 days to 6.5 days, and the average gestation of the pregnancy at the time of the abortion was significantly reduced, also reducing the risk of complications. What’s more, 83% of those surveyed said they preferred telemedicine, and 66% would choose telemedicine again even after the pandemic.

That’s not to say it should be the only option, but it should certainly be a choice going forward.

There are countless compelling reasons why someone might choose to self-administer an abortion, even outside of the context of a public health crisis – victims of domestic abuse, and women who live with controlling partners, for example, may be unable to leave the house to attend in-person consultations. We know that instances of domestic and intimate partner violence are on the rise in the UK, and for many women in these situations, being able to access abortion healthcare privately and discreetly is a matter of life and death.

Cost of travel, cost of childcare and time off work all mean that women in lower socio-economic groups have to overcome many barriers to access abortion services if telemedicine is not an option. Too often, abortion services are not only determined by your postcode but also by your class and your ability to pay. This is particularly the case in the current economic climate, where jobs are precarious and the use of temporary and zero hours contracts are on the increase. People working in these types of roles cannot afford to turn down work in order to attend multiple appointments to access abortion services. Telemedicine cuts out the need for multiple appointments and allows women to take the medications at a time which is suitable for them in line with their lives and commitments.

This burden is increased exponentially for disabled women who have specific access and travel needs. This can result in them having to rely on the help of others and the confidentiality of their healthcare needs can therefore be compromised. The current arrangement removes this barrier and means abortion services for disabled women are more accessible and more confidential. 

Medical abortion is recommended by the World Health Organisation, with both abortion pills included within their list of essential medicines, which comprises lifesaving medicines that should be available in every country. We know that medical abortion is a safe and highly effective procedure up to 10-week gestation. 

There is no reason for telemedicine and self-managed abortions not to become a permanent healthcare provision. As a society, we must trust women to make the best decisions for themselves. 

Yours sincerely,

Name and add your address and postcode.