PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Abortion: Northern Ireland (17 October 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what legal protections in place between 22 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 to protect health professionals in Northern Ireland that have a conscientious objection to abortion.

Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)

I published guidance for health professionals on 7 October 2019 on gov.uk/nio that sets out the changes to the law on access to abortion services for healthcare professionals and what this means for them in relation to their patients during the interim period.

No healthcare professionals will be compelled to provide services, other than treatment which is necessary to save the life of the woman or girl, or to prevent grave permanent injury to her physical or mental health. In the interim period (prior to the legal framework coming into force by 31 March 2020) if a healthcare professional has a conscientious objection to abortion, they can raise this with their employer and follow relevant guidance from their professional body.

We will be shortly consulting on the new legal framework. We will continue engaging with healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland to ensure that the legal abortion provisions can also be accompanied by professional guidance and professional standards of practice to assist healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland to clearly understand their legal rights, obligations and duties from 31 March 2020.

Answered by:
Sir Julian Smith (Conservative)
25 October 2019