Calls for women to have equal access to the 'take home abortion pill'

The NHS in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire are among four in the country said not to offer it.

@Bauer Media
Published 16th Oct 2018
Last updated 30th Oct 2018

There are calls for all women in Glasgow and the west of Scotland to have the same abortion rights.

In October 2017, the Scottish Government made it legal for women to take an abortion pill in the comfort of their own home.

It came after concerns they were distressed and miscarrying on their journey home from the clinic or hospital.

It's understood four health boards have yet to implement the change though, including NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Chief Executive of the Humanist Society Scotland, Gordon McRae, says, "It's very concerning expectations were raised that the abortion pills would be available to take home across the country.

"Those health boards which are dragging their feet need to answer to women in their area about why they've allowed themselves to fall behind.

"We believe that every individual should have control over their own body. The benefit of taking this pill at home is that it comes from women who have gone through the experience.

"Before, it forced women to travel back and forth. This is new way is a major step forward.

"We're heartened however that all of health boards seem to indicate they are putting plans in place but the important thing is, we make it available as soon as possible and to support women.

But other organisations argue the "take home abortion pill" should never have been allowed in the first place.

Margaret Akers from The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children says, "We urge all health boards not to introduce this policy. It has been tragic for Scotland.

"Women are often the victims of abortion and are driven to it by a number of failures.

"The determination to push forward the abortion pill at home makes a woman vulnerable to coercion to abort her child because it is convenient to someone else.

"The Abortion Act never envisaged women to carry out an abortion at home where it may not be safe and without medical supervision."

We have contacted NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Ayrshire and Arran for comment but have yet to receive a response.