BBC: Western Trust to recommence early medical abortion services
The Western Trust is to recommence its early abortion services as early as July, BBC Radio Foyle understands. It is also understood the trust has now appointed a new consultant to support the nurse-led service.
In April 2021, the Western Trust announced it was suspending its interim early medical abortion services as the system was "no longer sustainable".
It was described at the time by the trust as a "temporary pause" in the service.
The trust said it needed additional nursing and medical support in order to deliver the service, and that it was exploring options to resolve the issue. T
he guidance on the Western Trust website for women since the suspension of services has been to contact the British Pregnancy Advisory Service if they were less than 10 weeks pregnant.
If more than 10 weeks pregnant, the Western Trust website provided guidance on seeking free abortion care in England.
The pro-choice group Alliance for Choice Derry has said since the early medical abortion service has been suspended at the trust, one person a week has contacted it for support.
"There is a lot of stress, a lot of fear, a lot of panic and it's really sad to see," Bethany Moore from the group said. "We have people contacting us and saying things like: 'I thought this was all sorted and I was able to get this at home' and a lot of questions about whether they have to travel to England."