Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure women accessing telemedicine abortion services are given sufficient time and advice on which to base a decision.

Women requesting a telemedicine abortion should have access to objective information and, if required, counselling and decision-making support about their pregnancy options.

In line with the Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures for approved independent sector abortion providers in England (RSOPs) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists clinical guideline on the Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, when a woman requests an abortion, careful and sensitive enquiry as to the reasons should be made. There should be the opportunity for further discussion, especially where the woman expresses any doubts. Women who are certain of their decision to have an abortion should not be subjected to delay or compelled to have counselling.