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| Abortion counselling review halted | Abortion counselling review halted |
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| The government has called off a consultation on the way counselling is offered to women who are considering having an abortion, health minister Anna Soubry announced on Wednesday. | |
| Soubry said: "I am aware that there is a cross-party inquiry into unwanted pregnancy and I think there is some important work that they will do and evidence which they will hear. | Soubry said: "I am aware that there is a cross-party inquiry into unwanted pregnancy and I think there is some important work that they will do and evidence which they will hear. |
| "But the simple reality is as follows: we no longer plan to undertake a separate consultation and I am sorry if that disappoints those members of the committee. | "But the simple reality is as follows: we no longer plan to undertake a separate consultation and I am sorry if that disappoints those members of the committee. |
| "I am grateful for the work they did and I want to thank them for all their efforts." | "I am grateful for the work they did and I want to thank them for all their efforts." |
| Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire, accused the government of reneging on its promise to consider the issue of abortion clinics offering women seeking terminations counselling advice. | Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire, accused the government of reneging on its promise to consider the issue of abortion clinics offering women seeking terminations counselling advice. |
| Some Tories and anti-abortion campaigners have raised concerns that the current situation creates a conflict of interest because many women who accept advice from clinics' in-house counsellors go on to have abortions. | Some Tories and anti-abortion campaigners have raised concerns that the current situation creates a conflict of interest because many women who accept advice from clinics' in-house counsellors go on to have abortions. |
| In a question to the minister, Dorries said: "It is not a case of changing the law, it is a case of changing the government's commitment. There was an absolute commitment by the government that a consultation would be taken. | In a question to the minister, Dorries said: "It is not a case of changing the law, it is a case of changing the government's commitment. There was an absolute commitment by the government that a consultation would be taken. |
| "In fact, the BMA [British Medical Association] themselves moved a motion to agree to this. So please could you tell us why the government has changed its mind on independent counselling?" | "In fact, the BMA [British Medical Association] themselves moved a motion to agree to this. So please could you tell us why the government has changed its mind on independent counselling?" |
| Soubry replied: "I make it very clear, as the committee identified, it is the case there is undoubtedly patchy counselling throughout the NHS. I don't think that is acceptable. | Soubry replied: "I make it very clear, as the committee identified, it is the case there is undoubtedly patchy counselling throughout the NHS. I don't think that is acceptable. |
| "But the committee also decided that it was of primary importance that, when a woman is seeking a termination, there is no delay in her achieving that. | "But the committee also decided that it was of primary importance that, when a woman is seeking a termination, there is no delay in her achieving that. |
| "That is why it is so important that, if a woman is going to have a termination, she does it as quickly and as soon as possible and that was the unanimous agreement of the committee and I welcome that. | "That is why it is so important that, if a woman is going to have a termination, she does it as quickly and as soon as possible and that was the unanimous agreement of the committee and I welcome that. |
| "There is other work we should be doing on counselling. I take the view that this is not the primary function we should be addressing and that is why I have taken the decision that I have." | "There is other work we should be doing on counselling. I take the view that this is not the primary function we should be addressing and that is why I have taken the decision that I have." |
| The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which would have had to send women seeking an abortion to a separate counsellor had the plans become law, welcomed the announcement. It said: "Current abortion counselling arrangements serve women well, and so BPAS is pleased to see the government has dropped its plans to unnecessarily overhaul services. | The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which would have had to send women seeking an abortion to a separate counsellor had the plans become law, welcomed the announcement. It said: "Current abortion counselling arrangements serve women well, and so BPAS is pleased to see the government has dropped its plans to unnecessarily overhaul services. |
| "Calls to do so had been driven by a handful of MPs with an anti-abortion agenda who wished to create barriers in women's access to care. | "Calls to do so had been driven by a handful of MPs with an anti-abortion agenda who wished to create barriers in women's access to care. |
| "BPAS hopes that government policy can now focus on efforts to support women trying to prevent pregnancy, and ensure the highest quality care for those who do need abortion services." | "BPAS hopes that government policy can now focus on efforts to support women trying to prevent pregnancy, and ensure the highest quality care for those who do need abortion services." |