HC Deb 26 April 1976 vol 910 cc50-2W
Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a list of counselling services to which his draft departmental paper on arrangements for counselling of patients seeking abortion has been sent.

Dr. Owen

The following statutory authorities, professional bodies and other organisations have to date been sent copies of the draft paper on the counselling of patients seeking abortionMedical Council for Postgraduate Medical Education Faculty for Community Medicines General Medical Services Committee of the BMA Joint Consultants Committee Medical Women's Federation Royal College of General Practitioners Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Royal College of Psychiatrists Standing Medical Advisory Committee Society of Community Medicine Nursing Association of Nurse Administrators Central Council for Education and Training of Health Visitors Central Midwives Board Health Visitors Association National Association of Chief and Principal Nursing Officers Royal College of Midwives Royal College of Nurses Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee Social Work Association of Directors of Social Services British Association of Social Workers Central Council for Education and Training of Social Workers Residential Care Association Standing Conference for the Advancement of Counselling Others Association of County Councils Association of Metropolitan Authorities British Pregnancy Advisory Service Brook Advisory Centres Catholic Marriage Advisory Council Central Health Services Council Personal Social Services Council Health Education Council Let Live Lifeline Mothers' Union National Children's Adoption Association National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Council National Marriage Guidance Council Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work Pregnancy Advisory Service Regional Health Authorities of England Shrewsbury Diocesan Children's Rescue Society

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of cases of pelvic inflammation following induced abortion for each of the years 1967 to 1975;

(2) if he will list the total number of discharges from hospitals of patients who have undergone abortions for each of the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Dr. Owen,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 579], circulated the following information:

The information available on pelvic inflammation does not specifically identify pelvic inflammation following induced abortion. However, information is available from abortion notifications concerning sepsis following induced abortion (a condition which is part of the broad category of pelvic inflammation) and the figures for England and Wales are as follows:

1967 Not applicable
1968 Not available
1969 485
1970 565
1971 469
1972 411
1973 283
1974 Not yet available
1975 Not yet available

These figures do not take account of cases of sepsis which may have been diagnosed after the operations have been notified or of cases sepsis which may have followed illegal abortions.