Women in Wales will be able to carry out abortions at home during the coronavirus crisis, it has been confirmed.
The Welsh Government has announced that pregnant women and girls wanting to terminate an early pregnancy will be prescribed two pills at home instead of going to a hospital or clinic.
The aim is for these people to avoid social contact and the unnecessary risk of exposure to coronavirus.
The prescription of medication will follow a remote consultation with a medical practitioner via video link or telephone conference.
Charities had voiced concerns that women who wanted an abortion but had underlying health conditions would put themselves at risk to have the procedure or turn to dangerous alternatives.
Wales' health minister Vaughan Gething said: "Public safety is our number one priority as we tackle the Covid-19 crisis.
"This temporary measure ensures that women can continue to access these key services without being exposed to unnecessary risk during these challenging times."
An early medical abortion involves taking two different drugs 24-48 hours apart and is only possible during the first nine weeks and six days of pregnancy.
Currently, women are required to attend a hospital or clinic at least once to take the first medication but may take the second medication at home where they complete the treatment.
However, the amendment of the Abortion Act 1967 will:
- allow the home of the registered medical practitioner to be approved as a class of place for treatment for the termination of pregnancy for the purpose only of prescribing the two abortion medicines known as Mifepristone and Misoprostol;
- allow the home of the pregnant woman to be a class of place where the treatment of termination of pregnancy may be carried out.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said they welcomed the move in Wales, along with similar measures in England and Scotland.
