HC Deb 23 February 1987 vol 111 cc107-13W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what requirements and assurances his Department has sought since 1974 from clinics performing abortions after 20 weeks; and whether any clinics have lost their licenses through not complying with these requirements.

Mr. Newton

In the private sector, all places approved for abortion are required to give assurances in respect of:

  • Financial and business arrangements
  • Advertising

Notifications of legal abortions to resident women-numbers: age (i) gestation weeks, (ii) grounds. (iii) category of premises. England andWales 1984
Gestation weeks Grounds All ages Under 15 15 16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45 and over Unknown
NHS 20–23
All grounds 453 12 15 71 104 98 44 77 30 1 1
1. (with any other) 6 2 1 1 2
2. (alone) 146 12 15 52 30 12 13 7 4 1
3. (with or without 2) 16 1 4 2 2 4 3
4. (alone) 261 14 62 78 25 63 18 1
4. (with any other except I,excluding 4 alone) 21 2 6 5 2 1 5
5. 1 1
6. 2 1 1
24 and over
All grounds 62 1 2 8 19 16 8 6 2
1. (with any other) 3 1 2
2. (alone) 8 1 1 2 4
3. (with or without 2) 1 1
4. (alone) 45 4 15 14 5 5 2
4. (with any other except 1,excluding 4 alone) 2 1 1
5. 2 2
6. 1 1
Non-NHS 20–23
All grounds 1,319 33 73 546 394 131 65 47 25 4 1
1. (with any other)
2. (alone) 1,233 33 72 537 366 115 50 38 18 3 1
3. (with or without 2) 83 1 9 27 16 14 8 7 1
4. (alone) 3 1 1 1
4. (with any other except I,excluding 4 alone)
5.
6.
24 and over
All grounds 198 9 12 85 60 16 5 5 6
1. (with any other) 1 1
2. (alone) 192 8 12 83 58 16 5 4 6
3. (with or without 2) 4 1 2 1
4. (alone)
4. (with any other except 1,excluding 4 alone) 1

  • Facilities and staffing, including medical and nursing cover
  • Maintenance of patient records and medical notes including number of operations
  • Patient admission/discharge
  • Arrangements for blood supply, including emergency cover
  • Estimation of gestational age
  • Disposal of foetal material

Places specially approved to carry out terminations at 20 weeks and over gestation are required to give additional assurances concerning the estimation of gestational age by ultrasound scan, the maintenance of a separate register, the availability of resuscitation equipment and arrangements for the immediate transfer to a nearby hospital special care baby unit in the event of a live birth.

No clinics approved to carry out terminations at 20 weeks and over gestation have had their approval revoked through non-compliance with these requirements.

Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number and percentages of abortions performed to residents and non-residents at 20 to 23 weeks gestation and 24 weeks and over gestation for the years 1984 and 1985; on what grounds these were performed; what ages the women were; how many were performed in the National Health Service; and how many were performed in approved places.

Mr. Newton

The information is given in the tables.

Gestation weeks Grounds All age Under 15 15 16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45 and over Unknown
5.
6.

Notifications of legal abortions to non-resident women-numbers: age (i) gestation weeks, (ii) grounds, (iii) category of premises, Englandand Wales 1984
Gestation weeks Grounds All age Under 15 15 16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45 and over Unknown
NHS 20–23
All grounds 6 1 2 1 1 1
1 (with any other)
2 (alone) 3 1 1 1
3 (with or without 2)
4 (alone) 3 1 1 1
4 (with any other except 1,excluding 4 alone)
5
6
24 and over
All grounds
1 (with any other)
2 (alone)
3 (with or without 2)
4 (alone)
4 (with any other except 1,excluding 4 alone)
5
6
Non-NHS 20–23
All grounds 2,024 35 61 598 696 336 143 88 51 14 2
1 (with any other)
2 (alone) 1,977 35 61 597 691 321 134 78 44 14 2
3 (with or without 2) 38 3 14 8 8 5
4 (alone) 3 1 1 1
4 (with any other except 1,exluding 4 alone) 6 1 2 2 1
5
6
24 and over
All grounds 272 10 10 96 89 30 18 12 6 1
1 (with any other)
2 (alone) 269 10 10 96 88 30 17 11 6 1
3 (with or without 2) 2 1 1
4 (alone) 1 1
4 (with any other except 1,excluding 4 alone)
5
6

Notifications of legal abortions to resident women—numbers: age (i) gestation weeks, (ii) grounds, (iii) category of premises, England and Wales 1985
Non-NHS 20–23
All grounds 443 6 14 77 111 90 46 70 25 4
1. (with any other) 8 2 2 2 2
2. (alone) 138 6 13 51 36 12 12 5 2 1
3. (with or without 2) 12 8 1 2 1
4. (alone) 263 1 24 58 71 28 60 18 3
4. (with any other except 1,excluding 4 alone) 21 2 7 3 2 2 5
5. 1
6.
24 and over
All grounds 53 1 6 15 16 9 4 1 1
1. (with any other) 5 1 1 2 1

Gestation weeks Grounds All ages Under 15 15 16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45 and over Unknown
2. (alone) 8 1 2 2 2 1
3. (with or without 2) 1 1
4. (alone) 34 3 11 9 7 2 1 1
4. (with any other except 1, excluding 4 alone) 5 1 3 1
5.
6.
Non-NHS 20–23
All grounds 1,489 33 80 612 466 160 66 44 24 3 1
1. (with any other)
2. (alone) 1,406 33 80 605 435 130 58 41 21 2 1
3. (with or without 2) 76 6 27 29 8 3 3
4. (alone)
4. (with any other except 1, excluding 4 alone) 5 4 1
5. 1 1
6.
24 and over
All grounds 131 6 7 64 42 5 4 2 1
1. (with any other)
2. (alone) 128 6 7 64 41 4 3 2 1
3. (with or without 2) 3 1 1 1
4. (alone)
4. (with any other except 1, excluding 4 alone) _
5.
6.

Notifications of legal abortions to non-resident women—numbers: age (i) gestation weeks, (ii) grounds, (iii) category of premises, England and Wales 1985
Gestation weeks Grounds All ages Under 15 15 16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45 and over Unknown
NHS 20–23
All grounds 2 1 1
1. (with any other)
2. (alone) 1 1
3. (with or without 2)
4. (alone) 1 1
4. (with any other except 1, excluding 4 alone)
5.
6.
24 and over
All grounds
1. (with any other)
2. (alone)
3. (with or without 2)
4. (alone)
4. (with any other except 1, excluding 4 alone)
5.
6.
Non-NHS 20–23
All grounds 2.004 37 74 552 672 313 190 108 51 7
1. (with any other)
2. (alone) 1,962 37 74 549 663 306 179 103 44 7
3. (with or without 2) 32 3 7 5 7 4 6
4. (alone) 2 1 1
4. (with any other except 1, excluding 4 alone) 8 2 1 3 1 1
5.
6.
24 and over
All grounds 310 4 16 102 91 47 29 13 7 1
1. (with any other)
2. (alone) 306 4 16 102 89 47 28 12 7 1
3. (with or without 2) 3 1 1 1
4. (alone)

Gestation weeks Grounds All ages Under 15 15 16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45 and over Unknown
4. (with any other except excluding 4 alone) 1 1 1
5.
6.
Grounds as listed in Schedule 2 of the Abortion Regulations 1968.

Mr. Merchant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown by regional health authority of all those centres which are currently licensed for the performing of abortions; and in each of those centres, how many abortions were performed (a) in total, (b) from 0 to 19 weeks gestation, (c) from 21 to 20 weeks gestation, (d) from 22 to 23 weeks gestation and (e) 24 or more weeks gestation, in the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Newton

The private nursing homes approved to carry out abortions in each regional health authority are a in England are as follows. For reasons of confidentiality, information is not released about the numbers of abortions performed at each specific centre.