Marie Stopes removes fees on abortions for NI women

MARIE Stopes UK has said it will no longer charge fees for Northern Irish women to have abortions in England.

It comes after the DUP’s Westminster deal with the Conservatives led to a shock announcement that free NHS terminations for women from here would be provided in England.

Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless in exceptional circumstances with hundreds of women who travel each year to the mainland for surgery, either on the NHS or privately, having to pay for the procedure.

Marie Stopes UK said it was waiving fees and any women from here who have been treated since that date will be contacted to have their consultation and treatment costs refunded.

The company charges £546 for a medical abortion up to nine weeks using a pill and up to £2,040 for a procedure under general anaesthetic for women 19-24 weeks pregnant.

Sally Bassett, acting managing director at Marie Stopes UK, said: “The Government has advised us that its decision to fund Northern Irish women was with immediate effect.

“We are working closely with government partners to establish how this will work in practice, but we believe it is right to remove fees for Northern Irish women while this conversation is ongoing and to refund women who have received treatment since the announcement. We are delighted to be working with government to implement this change, which will substantially reduce the cost of abortion for Northern Irish women.

“Ideally these services would be provided in Northern Ireland itself, but until that happens, this is an important step forward.”