Latest stats prove need for accessible and efficient early abortions

10/06/2021

It is no surprise that during the pandemic, more people have required early medical abortions – and the temporary provision of abortion telemedicine has facilitated access to abortion healthcare. Abortion Rights continues to maintain that it is vital that abortion telemedicine continues beyond the pandemic.

Abortion Rights Chair Kerry Abel said, “The case has been made for keeping abortion telemedicine, full stop.”

The proportion of abortions that are performed at under 10 weeks has continued to increase, according to national statistics released today. In 2020, 88% of abortions were performed under 10 weeks, increasing from 82% in 2019. In 2020, there were 209,917 abortions for women resident in England and Wales.

371 people from Northern Ireland travelled to England for abortions in 2020, a significant decrease from the 1,014 in 2019. It is shocking that, during a global pandemic, more than one person per day from Northern Ireland was forced to travel for abortion healthcare due to inadequate provision at home.

Ends

Notes to Desk:

• Media contact for comment and interviews:  Kerry Abel, National Chair, Abortion Rights (07979 535242)
• Abortion Rights is the UK pro-choice campaign, working to defend and extend abortion rights and provide a pro-choice voice to the media.
• Read more about the case for Telemedicine here.