Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential risk to health of undergoing repeat abortions; and if he will take steps to reduce the number of repeat abortions.

Clinical guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists sets out the risks associated with abortions and repeat abortions. The guidance highlights that women should be informed that abortion is a safe procedure for which major complications and mortality are rare at all gestations if delivered to the standards set out in the guidance.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that increased uptake of long acting reversible contraception should reduce unintended pregnancy rates and prevent significant numbers of repeat abortions. Any woman having an abortion by a provider commissioned by the National Health Service should be given advice about contraception before they leave the clinic.