Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:56 pm on 26 May 2021.
Minister, may I call for a statement from the Minister for health on the decision to allow doctors to prescribe pills by telephone or video to enable girls and women to abort at home? I am sure many Members have been contacted by people concerned that the removal of any direct medical supervision overseeing the use of these abortion pills at home raises a number of safety issues for the mother, putting their health and safety at risk, and the worry that it could lead to increased pressure being put on the NHS, which is the very consequence the policy is ultimately trying to avoid. The previous health Minister said this was a temporary approval, in light of coronavirus, that would expire on the day on which the temporary provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 expire, or the end of the period of two years, beginning with the day on which it was made, or whichever is earlier. With the easing of coronavirus restrictions, and bearing in mind the need to ease the pressure on front-line NHS staff, could we have a statement from the health Minister on whether this temporary policy of allowing women to have access to termination of pregnancy services at home will be permanent or not? Thank you.