Scottish ministers accused of failing women who cannot get later abortions

Campaigners say ‘extremely vulnerable women’ are having to travel hundreds of miles to visit English clinics

Libby Brooks, Scotland correspondent
Mon 21 Apr 2025

Campaigners have warned Scottish ministers that they are failing in their legal and moral duties as growing numbers of “extremely vulnerable women” have to travel hundreds of miles south because they cannot access later-term abortions in Scotland.

Not one of Scotland’s 14 regional health boards provide abortion care after 20 weeks except in the specific cases of foetal abnormality or threat to a woman’s life. This is despite the Scottish government promising to rectify this “explicit inequality” three years ago, and abortion being legal on broad grounds until 24 weeks across the UK.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/21/scottish-government-failing-women-who-cant-access-later-term-abortions-campaigners-say

Scotland – Revealed: How ‘sinister’ lack of access to surgical abortions puts lives at risk

'They think sending women to England is perfectly reasonable,' say campaigners as lack of abortion care in Scotland drives women south of the border

Greg Barradale
3 Mar 2025

When one 16-year-old girl in Scotland found out she was pregnant at 23 weeks, the “fear and shame” of her situation led her to contemplate suicide. Her family were anti-abortion, so her boyfriend’s mum had to take her to London for treatment at a BPAS clinic.

Another teenager, who discovered she was having a cryptic pregnancy after her contraceptive injection failed, vomited on herself out of shock when told she would have to travel to England to get an abortion. The journey cost her thousands of pounds.

Continued: https://www.bigissue.com/life/health/surgical-abortions-care-scotland-england-women-health/

03.03.2025

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

‘Shameful’ anti-abortion protesters slammed over month-long ‘vigils’ targeting Glasgow hospital

The 40 Days for Life campaign group confirmed that it plans to hold a series of 'prayer vigils' outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in March and April despite Scotland's newly established buffer zone laws.

By Ruth Suter, Craig Meighan, PA Scotland
24 FEB 2025

Pro-choice campaigners have hit out at a US group's "shameful" plans to stage anti-abortion protests outside a Glasgow hospital for over a month.

The Texas-founded 40 Days for Life hosts demonstrations around the world and has announced intentions to hold "prayer vigils" in clear view of the maternity unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.

Continued: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/shameful-anti-abortion-protesters-slammed-31069308

Scotland – ‘We faced torrent of abuse after JD Vance’s abortion falsehoods’

Feb 23, 2025
By Lucy Grieve, co-founder of Back of Scotland

I co-founded the Back Off Scotland campaign as an undergraduate student in 2020 following a concerning surge in anti-abortion protests taking place outside medical facilities providing abortion care.

In the five years that have elapsed since, members of the campaign have, intermittently, been subjected to a handful of threatening communications.

These have involved threats of litigation, accusations of murder, and we have even received menacing phone calls from anti-abortion activists in the middle of the night.

Continued: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24956613.we-faced-torrent-abuse-jd-vances-abortion-falsehoods/

Scotland – Abortion protests near clinics banned as buffer zones law goes live

Sep 24, 2024

The MSP responsible for the introduction of buffer zones near abortion clinics has hailed the first day of the new legislation as "crucial".

Green MSP Gillian Mackay was behind the bill which prevents anti-abortion protesters from gathering within 200m (656ft) of clinics where the procedure is carried out.

The zones, which are now live, were introduced as a result of Mackay’s Safe Access Zones Scotland Act, which was passed in June with the support of 118 MSPs from across the Chamber.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98y1ryd6d3o

Scotland – ‘I felt alone and isolated travelling to England for abortion care’

Jessica says she had to make the 'traumatic' journey after missing the cut-off for treatment in Scotland.

Caitlin Hutchison
July 18, 2024

Jessica was 23 when she unexpectedly fell pregnant. She had been on contraception and showed no obvious signs, so it took until the eighteenth week of her pregnancy before she realised.

By that stage, even though she was legally entitled to an abortion, she had reached the cut-off in Scotland and her only option was to make an 800-mile round trip to a clinic in England.

Continued: https://news.stv.tv/scotland/number-of-women-travelling-from-scotland-to-england-for-abortion-care-at-highest-level-since-before-covid-pandemic

18.07.2024

Commentary

Back Off Scotland

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Jenni Minto

Lucy Grieve

National Services Scotland

Rachael Clarke

traveling to England for abortion

Scotland – Kate Forbes accused of ‘ignorant’ comments after defending silent prayer near abortion clinics

The Highlands MSP and former SNP finance secretary was criticised by buffer zone campaign group Back off Scotland.

by Alasdair Clark
November 26 2023

Campaigners have accused SNP MSP Kate Forbes of making “ignorant comments” after she defended silent prayer outside of abortion clinics.

Ms Forbes shared her views on the upcoming Holyrood legislation which could see buffer zones imposed around clinics.

If backed by MSPs, the bill would prevent protest within 200 metres of medical facilities.

Continued: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/6271447/kate-forbes-silent-prayer-abortion-clinics/

26.11.2023

anti-choice intimidation

anti-choice protesters

Anger at speed of progress on buffer zones at abortion clinics

Sept 27, 2023
By Craig Williams, BBC Scotland

Pro-choice activists are calling on MSPs to speed up the creation of buffer zones around Scotland's abortion clinics.

The Scottish government is backing a bill which would ban anti-abortion groups from gathering outside clinics.

But campaigners for buffer zones say Scotland is being left behind the rest of the UK.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66889551

UK – Inside the anti-abortion protests plaguing clinics amid buffer zone delays

Anti-abortion protests and calls to the police have ramped up since so-called buffer zones were voted in, writes Maya Oppenheim

Sept 16, 2023
Maya Oppenheim

Standing outside a Chinese takeaway plastered with funfair adverts in south London, two women can be seen clutching pink and blue plastic rosary beads as they solemnly recite prayers under their breath. In front of them, a framed print of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is strapped to an easel next to a sign which reads “Love them both” and a photo of a smiling baby.

“Pregnant, Need Help?” another poster reads. “Housing Help, Financial support, Moral support offered here, Just ask us or call 0800 096 2518”. The women have set up camp opposite an abortion clinic in Brixton to protest against terminations being legal in the UK. Across a busy road, another member of their group stands directly outside the clinic clasping leaflets to hand to those going inside.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-abortion-protests-buffer-zones-b2409985.html

‘I had to go to England for my abortion because Scotland told me no’

Since 2019, almost 300 women have travelled to England to receive healthcare they were unable to access in Scotland.

Hannah Brown
July 21, 2023

The number of women travelling from Scotland to England to receive later abortion care has increased by 55% in the past year, new figures show.

In 2021, the number of women travelling to England was 42 but in 2022, new figures from the British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS), seen exclusively by STV News, show this increased to 65.

Since 2019, 282 women have travelled from Scotland to England to attain the service.

Continued: https://news.stv.tv/scotland/hundreds-of-women-forced-to-travel-from-scotland-to-england-for-abortion-care