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Abortion pill national shortage Abortion pill facilities shortage
(about 3 hours later)
An abortion pill shortage means some women are paying privately or having invasive and risky termination operations, the BBC has learned. A shortage of facilities for women wanting an abortion pill means some are paying privately or having invasive terminations, the BBC has learned.
The early medical abortion pill must be taken before nine weeks of pregnancy. The early medical abortion pill must be taken within nine weeks, sometimes with on-the-day hospital treatment.
One woman waited two weeks for an appointment at Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH) and when she got to see a doctor, she was eight weeks pregnant. One woman waited two weeks for an appointment at Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH) and when she got to see a doctor she was eight weeks pregnant.
The RUH said demand for medical termination exceeds supply and this is a national problem. The RUH said demand for this type of medical termination exceeds supply.
"Our priority is to ensure that we look after the vulnerable and those with specific co-existing medical problems that cannot be safely accommodated elsewhere," a spokesperson added. It added that this was a national problem.
Private clinic
"We have two beds a week in two clinics where we can offer the complete service around this pill. Demand exceeds supply," a spokeswoman said.
"Our priority is to ensure that we look after the vulnerable and those with specific co-existing medical problems that cannot be safely accommodated elsewhere."
She added that she did not know if private clinics required patients to stay in hospital after taking the pill.
The head of the Marie Stopes abortion charity in Bristol, Alison Peters, said: "Woman prefer to take their tablet and go home.
"And as long as there are no adverse side effects if they want to stay they can, if they want to go home they can... as long as they were not aware of any complications."
'Four tablets'
The woman said the hospital had offered her a termination at 12 weeks.The woman said the hospital had offered her a termination at 12 weeks.
"They had four tablets for the week, which had been allocated," she added."They had four tablets for the week, which had been allocated," she added.
To beat the deadline, the woman, who preferred not to be identified, paid £500 for the pill at a private clinic.To beat the deadline, the woman, who preferred not to be identified, paid £500 for the pill at a private clinic.
A BBC investigation also revealed there are about 100 women at one clinic in Bristol waiting for the pill, many of whom are being told they will not be able to have it in time.A BBC investigation also revealed there are about 100 women at one clinic in Bristol waiting for the pill, many of whom are being told they will not be able to have it in time.