Scots abortion services to treat women from Northern Ireland

Abortion services will be able to treat women from Northern Ireland without a detrimental impact on patients in Scotland, MSPS have been told.

Public health minister Aileen Campbell said she was confident services had the capacity to cope with a change that will allow Scottish NHS boards to offer free abortion services to Northern Irish women.

The Scottish Government estimates that between 20 and 150 women will travel to Scotland each year from Northern Ireland to access abortion services, at a cost of between £17,000 and £98,000. The UK government has also said Northern Irish women will no longer have to pay to have NHS abortions in England.

Ms Campbell told Holyrood’s health committee: “In a similar manner to the UK government, we believe abortion should be available as part of a standard healthcare service for all women.

“Womeninnorthernireland who need abortion services face considerable challenges in accessing them.

“It is right that Scotland plays its part in providing clinicallysafe and legal care for women who have made this decision.”