Abortion group halts some NI services following English safety worries

The Marie Stopes charity stated on Monday that some of the activities at its centre had been temporarily halted following last week’s assessment by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which visited all of the charities’ facilities in England.

The CQC inspectors said they had “concerns about the provider’s corporate and clinical governance arrangements and patient safety protocols in specific areas”.

In response, abortions for under-18s and “vulnerable” women were halted, as were abortions which were due to be done under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation.

All surgical abortions were also halted in Norwich.

A spokesman for Marie Stopes told the News Letter on Monday that the organisation has “extended our voluntary suspension to Belfast while we work through the issues raised by the CQC investigation”.

He added: “Much of the suspension relates to surgical services, which we aren’t able to provide in Northern Ireland.

“Where the suspension does apply in Belfast is for women under 18 or who require additional consent; they will be unable to access any services through our Belfast clinic while the suspension is in place.

“All other aspects of the service continue as normal.”

They could not be sure how many women are affected.

After news broke on Friday that certain services had been suspended in England, Marie Stopes said: “We are working urgently with the CQC on these areas and intend to regain full assurance within a few days.”

Asked on Monday how long the suspension is likely to last, a spokesman said only that they expect it “to be short”.

In Northern Ireland the law on abortion is much tighter than the rest of the UK, and procedures are only permitted if the life or wellbeing of the mother is threatened by the pregnancy.

A spokesman said in Northern Ireland they are “only permitted by law to offer medical abortion, and then only in very specific circumstances”.

There was a call for the CQC’s counterpart in the Province – the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) – to look at the Belfast centre after it emerged its services had been affected.

Bernie Smyth of anti-abortion group Precious Life wrote to the RQIA yesterday, saying: “I’d like to request the RQIA does everything in its power to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of women who might use the services of Marie Stopes Northern Ireland this week and the weeks ahead.”

Asked if it was taking any action in the wake of the CQC findings, the RQIA said that it inspects the service in Belfast to make sure it “complies with relevant regulations” and with “service specific care standards in respect of the work of [its] private doctor”.

It added: “This service is subject to a minimum of one inspection each year.”

The last published inspection of its Belfast facility, on June 17 last year, said it was “delivering safe, effective and compassionate care,” with “no areas for concern”.

The centre in Belfast opened in 2012. When asked on Monday, a Marie Stopes spokesman did not have a figure for the number of abortions the centre helps to perform annually.