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The ALLIANCE has signed a joint letter on telemedical abortion services

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 14th June 2021

The letter calls on the Scottish Government to make telemedical abortion a permanent and well supported option for care across Scotland.

The ALLIANCE has signed a joint letter to Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport. Together with 25 women’s organisations, human rights bodies, and healthcare providers, the letters calls on the Scottish Government to make telemedical abortion services permanent in Scotland.

In March 2020, the Scottish Government made temporary provisions for telemedical early medical abortion care during COVID-19. These changes allow women to access abortion care at home without needing to travel to a clinic or hospital for an in-person appointment. The use of telemedical services across Scottish healthcare have been vital in preserving healthcare rights, while reducing exposure to COVID-19 infection. The ALLIANCE believes that the temporary arrangements have had a positive impact by making access to abortion services safe, more effective and accessible.

This has been beneficial for disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers who may have different access needs and barriers that affect their capacity to visit hospitals and clinics in person. Continuation of current arrangements for early medical abortion at home minimises such barriers, and creates a more equitable and inclusive service for disabled people and people with long term conditions. The letter calls on the Scottish Government to make this change permanent, providing women with as much choice as possible in accessing abortion care.

You can read the joint letter on the Engender website (this link will take you away from our website).

 

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