Abortion is already readily available in the United Kingdom, but the British government has published a new paper saying it should be more widespread.
In response, a leading pro-life group is intensifying its campaign to inform women and physicians about the dangers of abortion.
The Department of Health’s white paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”, published today, proposes “easy access” to abortion.
“We will work towards an integrated model of service delivery to allow easy access to confidential, non-judgmental sexual health services (including for sexually transmitted infections, contraception, abortion, health promotion and prevention),” the government says in section 3.43 of the paper.
The British pro-life group SPUC Prolife, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told LifeNews.com that the paper “contradicts last month’s claim made by Anne Milton, the public health minister.”
in a November 2 House of Commons debate, she said, “[f]or me and for the Government, reducing the abortion rate is an absolute priority.”
Paul Tully, SPUC’s general secretary said: “Easy access to abortion will mean high abortion rates and consequent damage to women’s health and happiness.”
“The previous government’s teenage pregnancy strategy, which promoted easy access to abortion and contraception, saw an increase of 2,000 abortions a year in England and Wales among teenagers. It is time for something different,” he added.
In recent months SPUC has been sending information to GPs — briefing them about the reality and dangers of abortion, so they can inform their patients who are pregnant and who may be considering abortion.
SPUC will now intensify that campaign in the light of the government’s proposal, the pro-life group promised.
Overall, across England and Wales, there were 189,100 abortions in 2009, down from 195,296 in 2008.
