HC Deb 02 April 1976 vol 908 cc604-5W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many requests for abortion within the terms of the 1967 Act were received by consultants at the Central Middlesex Hospital in the months of November and December 1975 and January and February 1976; how many were performed within National Health Service provisions; how many were performed in the private sector; and how many were refused.

Dr. Owen

Information on requests for treatment under the Abortion Act are not collected. The Abortion Regulations 1968 require that notification of every termination of pregnancy must be given by the operating doctor within seven days of the operation to the Chief Medical Officer in the form set out in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. The form of notification covers the patient's identity, place of operation and also contains information designed to provide national data on the environmental, personal and social factors in the incidence of abortion. Regulation 5 forbids the disclosure of any information in the notification form but the Chief Medical Officer may at his complete discretion permit disclosure in the specified circumstances set out in Regulation 5. To give the detail by individual hospital has always been considered inconsistent with the provisions of Regulation 5 of the Abortion Regulations which were designed to preserve the confidentiality of patient information and the practice of registered medical practitioners.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which hospitals within the Brent-Harrow area day-care termination of pregnancies are available.

Dr. Owen

No hospitals within the area provide this facility.