Providers perspectives on the barriers to post-20-week Ground C abortion in Scotland

Abortion is the most common gynaecological procedure in the UK, with an estimated one in three women undergoing an abortion before the age of 45 years.1 In Scotland, the National Health Service (NHS) provides abortion free at the point of care. However, access to post-20-week gestation abortions (hereafter ≥20-week abortion) in Scotland has been a longstanding issue.2 Currently, no Scottish Health Boards routinely offer abortion up to the 24-week legal limit under Ground C of the Abortion Act 1967 (risk to the woman’s physical or mental health).3 Most Health Boards do provide abortions under Ground E (fetal abnormality) up to the legal limit. Consequently, some women travel to England for Ground C abortion care from independent sector providers.

Evidence suggests that since 2019, 282 women have travelled to England for this purpose, with the total number per year increasing since 2021.4 Research on the…

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