Women needing later abortions 'failed' by Scottish government

Campaigners have said Scottish ministers are failing in their legal and moral duties as growing numbers of "extremely vulnerable women" have to travel hundreds of miles south because they cannot access later-term abortions in Scotland.

- Libby Brooks

Not one of Scotland's 14 regional health boards provides abortion care after 20 weeks except in the specific cases of foetal abnormality or threat to a woman's life. The Scottish government promised to rectify this "explicit inequality" three years ago. Abortion is legal on broad grounds until 24 weeks across the UK.

Campaigners believe the lack of abortion care after 20 weeks in Scotland is a result of systemic stigma, with NHS managers unwilling to offer the service for what they deem to be social rather than medical reasons.

The only alternative is for women to seek help from the charity British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) and make the lengthy, stressful and expensive journey to a clinic in England. Although most abortions take place a lot earlier than 20 weeks, a minority of women find themselves in need of care much later.

The abortion rights campaigner Lucy Grieve, the co-founder of Back Off Scotland, said: "The vast majority of women seeking an abortion after 20 weeks are extremely vulnerable.

They might not have contacted services before because they have addiction issues, they are victims of domestic abuse or are very young and scared of admitting their pregnancy to their family."