Abortion pills to be legal at home

WOMEN in Wales will be allowed to take abortion pills safely at home, according to the Health Secretary.

In a statement today Vaughan Gething has instructed officials to start work immediately on how the Welsh Government can amend the legal framework to allow treatment for termination of pregnancy to be carried out at home.

In Wales it remains illegal to take the pills at home, meaning the course of two pills, three days apart, have to be taken in a clinic.

The change would mean women would get both medicines at the same consultation and would be able to take the second tablet, Misoprostol, which induces miscarriage, in their own home, rather than having to travel back to a clinic to take it.

The announcement has been welcomed by Labour AMs Julie Morgan and Jenny Rathbone.

Ms Rathbone said: “I am delighted that Vaughan Gething has responded to the call for women to be able to take the second abortion pill in the comfort of their own homes rather than having to return to clinic and then cope with aborting on the bus home.

“This is strongly supported by health professionals working in sexual health services.

“It is in line with Prudent Healthcare and will help to reduce waiting-times in clinic.

“Women who have suffered an incomplete miscarriage are already self-administering Misoprostol at home.”

Scottish ministers enacted a similar change last year.

Mrs Morgan said: “Women have to get to a clinic twice in 72 hours, which hugely complicates the process for a woman juggling other responsibilities.”