Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulation of private abortion clinics.

A robust process is in place for regulating independent sector abortion clinics. Independent sector abortion providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to carry out that regulated activity and have received written approval from the Secretary of State for Health and agree to comply with the Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs).

The CQC is responsible for ensuring that the requirements under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 are maintained through a system of monitoring and, where appropriate, inspection visits. If a CQC inspection identifies instances of non-compliance with the Health and Social Care Act and Regulations then appropriate regulatory action will be taken. Action will similarly be taken where providers are found not to be acting in accordance with the Abortion Act and RSOPs. This includes reporting any concerns in relation to termination of pregnancy practice to the Department, who then considers the appropriate action to be taken including reporting the matter to the police and/or withdrawing Secretary of State’s approval of the clinic to perform abortions.