§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on psychological services provided to women who have had abortions.[129046]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonIt is for primary care trusts, which commission abortion services, to consider whether psychological services should be available for women who have had an abortion. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline, "The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000)", considered the mental health implications of termination and concluded only a small minority of women experience any long term, adverse psychological consequences after abortion and that referral for further counselling should be available for those women.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has assessed into possible links between abortions and breast cancer.[129047]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department funded the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline "The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000)". This stated that the available evidence on an association between induced abortion and breast cancer is inconclusive. Cancer Research UK is undertaking a study, which is considering the full range of potential risk factors for breast cancer. This is an important and complex international research project. We understand that Cancer Research UK intends to publish the work when it is available.