The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that from 30 August, women in England and Wales will be able to permanently access medical abortions at home.

New legislation means that women will be able to access pills for early medical abortion via a teleconsultation and will be able to take both pills at home for gestation of up to 9 weeks and 6 days.

All independent sector abortion clinics in England have been reapproved and the approvals are valid until 31 July 2026, meaning women will be able to access abortion services across the country.

Minister for Public Health, Maggie Throup, said: "The wellbeing and safety of women requiring access to abortion services is paramount.

"With these measures women will have more choice in how and where they access abortion services, while ensuring robust data is collected to ensure their continued safety."

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health will also publish safeguarding guidance for under-18s accessing early medical abortion services. The guidance will underline the principles that every young person should have access to early medical abortions in a timely manner and that their holistic and safeguarding needs must be addressed by providers.

In order to monitor the impact and use of at-home early medical abortions, doctors will be required to record information on place of termination, place of consultation and whether the consultation was fully remote.

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