Decision

Extension of temporary approval of home use for both stages of early medical abortion

Temporary approval of women’s homes and the homes of registered medical practitioners as classes of place for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks has been extended until the end of the day on 29 August 2022.

From:
Department of Health and Social Care and The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP
Published
24 March 2022
Last updated
2 August 2022 — See all updates

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The 1967 Abortion Act was amended from 30 August 2022 to allow eligible women in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy (9 weeks and 6 days) to continue to take both medicines for early medical abortion at home.

See further information about abortion on the NHS website.

Applies to England

Documents

[Withdrawn] Extension of temporary approval of home use for both stages of early medical abortion

PDF, 105 KB, 3 pages

Details

On 30 March 2022, Parliament voted in favour of the amendment to the Health and Care Bill, making the temporary approval allowing home use of both pills for early medical abortions permanent in England and Wales.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has approved 2 temporary measures in England to limit the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensure continued access to early medical abortion services:

  • women and girls will be able to take both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks in their own homes, without the need to first attend a hospital or clinic
  • registered medical practitioners (doctors) will be able to prescribe both pills for the treatment of early medical abortion up to 10 weeks from their own homes

This must be carried out in line with the criteria set out in the attached document.

This approval supersedes the approval of 30 March 2020.

The government has announced an extension of the temporary approval to enable a safe and reliable return to pre-pandemic arrangements and continued access to services. This replacement temporary measure will end at midnight on 29 August 2022 after which face-to-face services will return.

Published 24 March 2022
Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates

  1. Added clarification that this approval expires at midnight – that is, the end of the day – on 29 August 2022.

  2. Added a note to say that on 30 March 2022, Parliament voted in favour of making the temporary approval allowing home use of both pills for early medical abortion permanent in England and Wales.

  3. First published.