BBC criticised for ‘lack of information’ after abortion episode screened

THE BBC has bowed to pressure to provide viewers with information about abortion after being criticised following a row sparked by an episode of Call The Midwife.

Concerns were raised following an episode of the BBC One programme on February 3, which dealt with a backstreet abortion.

No advice was then offered to viewers on the broadcaster’s Action Line.

Medical professionals wrote to the BBC with concerns and pro-choice charity British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) claimed the BBC was mistakenly treating abortion as a fraught political matter, stigmatising the medical professionals involved.

The Action Line page now refers to information about abortion, with the BBC saying they were added to reflect different legal frameworks of abortion law in the UK.

A spokesperson said: “There continues to be debate about abortion in the UK.

“The Abortion Act 1967 reformed the law relating to abortion but does not apply in Northern Ireland, where the framework for abortion therefore differs from other parts of UK.

“Given these differences we have added a direct link to the relevant NHS page, which has information on abortion for England, Scotland and Wales.

“As with some other widely debated issues, the Action Line does not link to all organisations.”

Penny Mordaunt, the women and equalities minister, and Jackie Doyle-Price, a health minister, also wrote to the BBC to complain.