Abortion: Clinics

All women in England and Wales should have access to safe, regulated abortions on the National Health Service under our current laws.

Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and abortion providers are required to have effective arrangements in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults accessing their services. Providers must ensure that all staff are trained to recognise the signs of potential abuse and coercion and know how to respond.

As part of standards set by the Care Quality Commission, abortion services must be able to prove that they have processes in place to ensure that all women and girls are seeking services voluntarily. The Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures also require staff to be able to identify those who require more support than can be provided in the routine abortion service setting, including where there is evidence of coercion.

Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 introduced Safe Access Zones outside abortion clinics in England and Wales meaning that it is illegal for anyone to do anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision to use abortion services, obstructs them, or causes harassment or distress to someone using or working at these premises. The law applies within a 150 metre radius of the abortion service provider.