§ 34. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals she has to expand facilities for out-patient abortions.
§ Dr. OwenIn March 1973 a paper was circulated to the senior administrative medical officers of the regional hospital boards which suggested that early abortion might be a suitable operation for day care treatment. A number of ways of organising a day care system were discussed. The number of abortion performed on a day care basis in the NHS is rising but is still a small proportion of the total. The Lane Committee favoured the provision of day care services for early abortion cases, and gave a list of essential requirements for such a service. I am now considering whether further guidance to health authorities would be useful. One private nursing home belonging to a charitable organisation has been permitted to perform day care abortions on a trial basis under rigorous conditions laid down by my Department. I am currently considering the advisability of allowing extended trials under the requirements set by the Lane Committee in parts of the private sector where I am satisfied that the standards of practice are of the highest and where the charitable status ensures that there is no exploitation of patients.