Consultation outcome

Home use of both pills for early medical abortion

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 26 November 2020
• Last updated: 10 March 2022 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Home use of both pills for early medical abortion (EMA) up to 10 weeks gestation: summary of consultation responses

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Detail of outcome

In March 2020, the government put in place a temporary measure in England, enabling women to take both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks (9 weeks and 6 days) gestation in their own homes, following a telephone or e-consultation with a clinician, without the need to first attend a hospital or clinic. This measure was put in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and ensure continued access to abortion services.

In 2021, the government ran a public consultation seeking views on whether to revert to the pre-pandemic position or to make the temporary COVID-19 measure permanent. This is a summary of the responses received.

Government published a written ministerial statement by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Vaccines and Public Health) on 24 February 2022.

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Original consultation

Summary

We want your views on whether or not the temporary measure introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic allowing women and girls to take both pills for an early medical abortion at home should be made permanent.

This consultation ran from
3pm on 26 November 2020 to 11:59pm on 26 February 2021

Consultation description

During the COVID-19 pandemic the government put in place a temporary measure in England, enabling women and girls to take both pills for early medical abortion (EMA) in their own homes up to 10 weeks’ (9 weeks and 6 days) gestation.

Before the pandemic, only the second pill for EMA could be taken at home ‒ women and girls attended an abortion service to take the first pill.

The temporary measure has been put in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and ensure continued access to abortion services. It’s time limited for 2 years, or until the pandemic is over ‒ whichever is earliest.

The government is now seeking views on whether or not to make the temporary measure permanent.

We prefer to receive online responses. However, if you cannot access the online survey, you can send a written response to address below.

Documents

Home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation

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Published 26 November 2020
Last updated 10 March 2022 + show all updates

1. 10 March 2022

   Added 'National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service (NUPAS)' to the list of organisational responses in the annex of the summary of consultation responses document.

2. 24 February 2022

   Updated to include the summary of responses to the consultation.

3. 26 November 2020

   First published.