05/12/2007

Pilot Studies On GP Surgery Abortions

Two pilot studies are being carried out to see if it is viable for early abortions to be carried out in GP surgeries in England, the Government has confirmed.

The trials of the provision of early medical abortions - which involve taking two tablets under medical supervision up to the ninth week of pregnancy - are understood to be taking place at a community hospital and a stand-alone unit within an acute hospital, both of which have not been named.

An evaluation of the trials, reported in Pulse magazine, is expected to be completed early next year.

A statement released by the Department of Health said: "We are formally evaluating the safety and effectiveness of providing early medical abortion services in non-traditional settings, which in future, could be a community medical setting such as a doctor's surgery which has the appropriate medical expertise.

"The evaluation will be complete in the New Year and we will consider the results carefully before reaching a decision."

In October, MPs in the Science and Technology Committee released a report, which called for women to be given easier access to abortions.

(KMcA)


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