Statement on WHSCT reinstatement of Early Medical Abortion
Alliance for Choice Derry are delighted to see the reinstatement of early medical abortion services (EMA) in the Western Trust area. Everyone can now access early medical abortion services freely, safely, legally and locally in our Trust. This is invaluable to the 1-3 people a week which we see seeking these services.
We note and appreciate the Western Trust’s apology at the lack of services for the past year and a half. It is about time the service returns - it is frustrating that it took this long. There now needs to be an increased effort to end the 8 week waiting list for the contraceptive implant, and 6-9 month waiting list for the coil. Reproductive and sexual health services are essential healthcare services and must be treated as such.
The reinstatement of these services is a direct result of grassroots feminist activism in Derry. We are so proud of our campaigners and activists, who have kept the pressure on the Trust to reinstate the service since it ceased operation in April 2021. Our members have been on the ground, directly helping people access safe and legal abortion pills, supporting them through the process for the past 18 months. Access to abortion telemedicine is especially essential for the most marginalised in society, including disabled people, people living in rural areas and those in coercive relationships.
We are especially grateful to our friends at Women Help Women who have been helping local people access abortion pills. We are also very thankful to providers in both the Northern and Southern Trusts, who have been helping people from our trust access EMA since April of this year.
This entire situation highlights the immediate need for commissioning of full abortion services. Alliance for Choice Derry continue to call on Robin Swann and the Department of Health to finally do so. As we approach the 3rd anniversary of decriminalisation of abortion in the North, it is shameful that 3 out of 5 healthcare trusts have ceased their EMA services at different intervals, due to lack of funding. It is shameful that 371 people from here travelled to England for abortion care during the pandemic. It is shameful that we are still waiting for the access we fought so hard for.
Bethany Moore,
Alliance for Choice Derry