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| GP surgery abortions considered | GP surgery abortions considered |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Trials are under way to test whether early abortions could be carried out safely in doctor's surgeries in England, the government has confirmed. | Trials are under way to test whether early abortions could be carried out safely in doctor's surgeries in England, the government has confirmed. |
| The Department of Health (DoH) said the trials at two undisclosed locations were evaluating the "safety and effectiveness" of such services. | The Department of Health (DoH) said the trials at two undisclosed locations were evaluating the "safety and effectiveness" of such services. |
| The pilot is for drug-induced abortions up to the ninth week of pregnancy. | The pilot is for drug-induced abortions up to the ninth week of pregnancy. |
| Currently, abortions can be carried out only at NHS hospitals or certain clinics with two doctors' approval. | Currently, abortions can be carried out only at NHS hospitals or certain clinics with two doctors' approval. |
| No decision | No decision |
| The results of the trials - reported in Pulse magazine - are expected next year, but the DoH said it had not yet taken a decision on whether to allow abortions in GP surgeries. | |
| It would consider the findings of the trial "carefully" before reaching a conclusion, it said. | It would consider the findings of the trial "carefully" before reaching a conclusion, it 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 DoH said in a statement. | "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 DoH said in a statement. |
| "The evaluation will be complete in the New Year and we will consider the results carefully before reaching a decision." | "The evaluation will be complete in the New Year and we will consider the results carefully before reaching a decision." |
| The trials have been taking place with no publicity at two facilities - a community hospital and a stand-alone unit within an acute hospital. | The trials have been taking place with no publicity at two facilities - a community hospital and a stand-alone unit within an acute hospital. |
| They are piloting the provision in "non-traditional settings" of early medical abortions, which involve taking two tablets under medical supervision. | They are piloting the provision in "non-traditional settings" of early medical abortions, which involve taking two tablets under medical supervision. |
| Nurse involvement | Nurse involvement |
| In October, the Commons Science and Technology Committee called for a relaxation of rules surrounding terminating pregnancies. | In October, the Commons Science and Technology Committee called for a relaxation of rules surrounding terminating pregnancies. |
| The group of MPs said there was no reason why women seeking an abortion needed the approval of two doctors. | The group of MPs said there was no reason why women seeking an abortion needed the approval of two doctors. |
| They wanted to see more involvement by nurses in carrying out all stages of early medical abortions. | They wanted to see more involvement by nurses in carrying out all stages of early medical abortions. |
| The committee also recommended that just one doctor sign the required consent form, rather than the two currently required by the Abortion Act. | The committee also recommended that just one doctor sign the required consent form, rather than the two currently required by the Abortion Act. |
| In 2006 there were almost 200,000 abortions in England and Wales with a further 13,000 in Scotland. | In 2006 there were almost 200,000 abortions in England and Wales with a further 13,000 in Scotland. |
| The vast majority were early abortions - 89% were carried out before 13 weeks and just 2% after 20 weeks. | The vast majority were early abortions - 89% were carried out before 13 weeks and just 2% after 20 weeks. |