Press Release

BPAS extends controversial telemed abortion service to Northern Ireland

9 April 2020         Issued by: Christian Concern

Today (April 9) the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has announced the extension of its controversial telemedical service in a bid to push their extreme abortion policies to women in Northern Ireland.

The service will provide pregnant women with potentially dangerous drugs in the post that will enable them to terminate a pregnancy in their home without any medical supervision.

79% do not want extreme abortion

The announcement comes despite 79% of Northern Irish respondents to a government consultation stating that they do not want extreme abortion services and laws forced on Northern Ireland.

The disturbing move has been made possible by an incredible double U-Turn from the UK government on March 30, which introduced DIY abortions without any debate or parliamentary scrutiny.

The new legislation sees the biggest change to abortion law since 1967, and the Christian Legal Centre is seeking an urgent Judicial Review in response to the unprecedented decision.

Before this proposal, abortions could only take place in hospitals or abortion clinics approved by the Secretary of State.

Under the new ‘temporary’ policy, doctors will be able to prescribe mifepristone and misoprostol over the phone or video platforms such as Facetime or Skype.

Through these pills, women will then be left to perform their own abortion at home without direct medical supervision.

Northern Ireland now targeted

Northern Ireland’s abortion laws were overturned on 31 March as a result of an extreme abortion regime imposed on it by Westminster, following a controversial vote last year.

However, decisions have not yet been made by Stormont politicians on how to put the new legislation into practice.

Northern Ireland MLAs have also called for an opportunity to introduce legislation to repeal the new extreme abortion regime. This makes the announcement made by BPAS this afternoon all the more concerning and undemocratic.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said:

“BPAS has introduced this service knowing there is already deep concern as to the legality of DIY abortions and knowing full well that the women of Northern Ireland are not asking for it and do not want it.

“At a time of national crisis, BPAS should be concentrating its efforts on supporting the health service. Instead, BPAS is using the coronavirus pandemic to extend its reach and to subvert the rule of law in order to achieve the long-standing aim of the organisation of abortion on demand.

“BPAS’s announcement is a brazen undemocratic act in the midst of a national crisis. It is an insult to the will of the people of Northern Ireland who have stated clearly that they do not want extreme abortion laws in their country.

“Despite this, BPAS is insisting on pushing its own agenda with the knowledge that once services like this occur on the ground, they are very hard to reverse.

“We are calling on the government to intervene to prevent this dangerous service in order to protect already vulnerable women in Northern Ireland.

“The Christian Legal Centre is considering its legal options on this latest move by BPAS.”