Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Women ‘may be offered abortion in Scotland’
SCOTLAND is considering offering free abortions to women from Northern Ireland, it was reported yesterday. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is said to be examining ways the procedure could be made available on the health service. The move comes after the Supreme Court last week ruled against women from Northern Ireland being allowed an abortion in England on the NHS as they are UK residents, but not living in England. It was reported in November the Scottish First Minister had been considering ways to allow the procedure. However, the Sunday Times reported yesterday that she and the country’s Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Calderwood, are continuing their efforts to make the service available. Women here cannot obtain abortions except under a narrow set of circumstances, including a serious risk to the mother’s physical or mental well-being. A spokesman for the Scottish Government told the Times: “We are supportive of all women having access to safe and legal abortions.”