‘Women from Wales come to my London clinic because of inadequate abortion care’

Aug 17, 2026
Kate Morgan, Laura Butler

Some women in Wales could be forced into continuing unwanted pregnancies because of inadequate surgical abortion care, according to a senior obstetrician.

Dr Ed Dorman said he treated women from Wales every other week at a British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinic in London but is worried about the "unknown number" who he said had little choice but to continue their pregnancies.

BBC Wales has been told women from Wales face the added "trauma" of travelling to England for care after 18 weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9wvg03pk5o

Changes to the law on abortion in England and Wales

An overview of how the law on abortion in England and Wales has changed following the assent of the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

Wednesday, 22 July, 2026
Elizabeth Rough

The purpose of this briefing is to provide an overview of how the law on abortion in England and Wales has changed following the assent of the Crime and Policing Act 2026. It does not comment on, or add to, the debate on the ethics of abortion.

Abortion is a medical intervention through which a pregnancy is ended and does not result in a live birth. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘termination of a pregnancy’. Abortion is lawful in England and Wales provided the criteria in the Abortion Act 1967 are met. The 1967 act provides that abortions carried out in accordance with the conditions in the act will not be criminal offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929.

Continued: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10970/

22.07.2026

Research

Abortion Act 1967

abortion law reform

Crime and Policing Act

Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929

Offence Against the Person Act

It’s official: No woman in England or Wales can be prosecuted for an abortion any more

Decriminalisation explained (and no, this does *not* mean 'abortion is now legal up until birth')

By Jennifer Savin
29 April 2026

After years of campaigning, England and Wales have officially decriminalised abortion for women in a “landmark moment” as part of proposed changes to the Crime and Policing Bill.

The government has now formally done away with the ancient Offences Against the Person Act from 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act of 1929, both of which saw women and girls open to arrest, investigation or prosecution in relation to procuring an abortion for themselves. Recent years have seen a worrying increase in criminal cases, after minimal incidences for decades, as more anti-abortion groups receive funding in the UK.

Continued: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a71163004/england-wales-decriminalise-abortion/

Abortion at 15 ‘changed my life’, says Senedd candidate

Iolo Cheung, BBC Wales and Jacob Morris, Newyddion S4C
23 January 2026

A candidate for the Senedd election in May has said she hopes sharing her own experience of having an abortion aged 15 will empower others to "understand the importance" of women's health and rights.

Tessa Marshall, 28, said going through the experience while studying for her GCSEs "changed" her life, and led her to understand issues such as bodily autonomy and sex education.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgyy32w0ydo.amp

24.01.2026

Wales – Mum, 26, ‘wants to be sterilised’ due to problems accessing sickness drug

Jan 22, 2026
Kate Morgan, Wales community correspondent

A woman who almost terminated her second pregnancy because of severe sickness says sterilisation is now her best option due to difficulties accessing treatment.

Chloe, 26, said she couldn't face another pregnancy because of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which causes prolonged severe nausea and vomiting that may last until birth. Plaid Cymru MS Lindsay Whittle has called for better access to Xonvea - an anti-sickness medication which is not routinely available in Wales.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wxvre2d4xo

22.01.2026

News

hyperemesis gravidarum

Abortions at record high in England and Wales ‘driven by cost of living’

Providers and doctors say lack of access to contraception another reason for the 11% rise in procedures in 2023

Hannah Al-Othman
Thu 15 Jan 2026

The rising cost of living and a lack of access to contraception have driven another rise in abortion rates in England and Wales, providers and doctors said.

Government statistics released on Thursday showed that abortions increased by 11% in 2023 compared with the previous year.

The age-standardised abortion rate for women was 23.0 abortions per 1,000 residents, the highest rate since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967.

Continued; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/15/abortions-record-high-england-wales-cost-of-living-contraception

15.01.2026

News

1967 Abortion Act

abortion rates in England

Dr Alison Wright

Katie Saxon

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Wales – Two women make the toughest choice imaginable. What happens next depends on where they live

There is a stark contrast in how women needing one key treatment are dealt with depending solely on whether they live in England or Wales

by Laura Butler
11 Jan 2026

Two women in Cardiff want abortions. One has a GP in England while the other’s is in Wales – and this difference determines whether they wait one day or three weeks.

Beda (not her real name), a 26-year-old Cardiff woman, got unexpectedly pregnant in January 2024. With her GP in the Welsh capital she went through Cardiff and Vale University health board. Four weeks later she had her abortion.

Continued: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/two-women-make-toughest-choice-33208096.amp

11.01.2026

Five Wins to Celebrate this International Safe Abortion Day

September 28 is International Safe Abortion Day, a chance to shine a light on the crucial role that accessible, quality abortion care plays in global health. These five wins for abortion rights are proof that a better future is not only possible—it’s already in the making.

Center for Reproductive Rights
09.26.2025

Abortion is one of the world’s most common health care services. It’s considered an essential service by the World Health Organization—and when carried out properly, it’s also a safe and simple one.

Almost 30% of all pregnancies end in abortions, and they happen all around the world: in places where they’re legal, restricted, and altogether banned. In fact, the legal status of abortion makes little difference in overall abortion rates.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/five-wins-international-safe-abortion-day-2025/

Number of abortions in England and Wales hit record high in 2022

Almost three in 10 conceptions ended in legal terminations, ONS figures show, as provider says women struggling to access contraception

Alexandra Topping
Wed 9 Jul 2025

The number of abortions in England and Wales reached a record high in 2022, with a leading provider stating that women are facing “significant barriers” in access to contraception.

Almost three in 10 conceptions ended in legal abortions in the two nations in 2022, up from about two in 10 a decade earlier, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/09/number-of-abortions-in-england-and-wales-hit-record-levels-in-2022

09.07.2025

News

abortion numbers

British Pregnancy Advisory Services

Katherine O’Brien

Office for National Statistics

Wales is UK worst for surgical abortions, says charity

June 13, 2025
Kate Morgan, Communities correspondent, BBC Wales News

Wales is the worst part of the UK for providing surgical abortions with many women treated in England, according to a leading healthcare charity.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said it was "astonishing" Wales was behind Northern Ireland, where abortion was only decriminalised in 2019.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9890ld7dmjo

13.06.2025

News

Bpas

British Pregnancy Advisory Service