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Level of abortions reaches record high of 200,000 a year
Last updated at 15:52pm on 19.06.07
The number of abortions rose by almost four per cent in 2006
Health Minister Caroline Flint: 'It is important that women have early access to abortion services as the earlier the abortion...'
More than 200,000 women had abortions last year, the highest number ever, figures show today.
Almost 4,000 of the 201,173 procedures carried out in England and Wales were on girls under 16, the legal age of consent for sex.
The total rose by almost four per cent last year on 2005. The increase is being blamed on a crisis in contraception services.
Lambeth had the highest rate of abortions among under-18s - 44 for every 1,000 women having a termination. Across London, 24 in every 1,000 under-18s had an abortion last year.
The lowest rates in the capital were in Westminster and Harrow, where 15 per 1,000 women under 18 had terminations.
The overall abortion rate has been rising steadily since 2002 and last year almost two per cent of women aged between 15 and 44 had a termination.
The figures, released by the Department of Health, show more abortions were carried out earlier in a pregnancy, reflecting government investment and the target of a maximum wait of three weeks.
Critics said women were finding it more difficult to access contraception services in the NHS as money earmarked for sexual health clinics was diverted to offset debts.
A higher proportion were carried out using medication instead of surgery.
One in 12 terminations was carried out at more than 13 weeks' gestation and 136 procedures were carried out where the foetus was 24 weeks or older.
Abortions over 24 weeks' gestation are only allowed in exceptional circumstances, if there is a substantial risk the child would be born with serious handicap or the mother's life was in danger.
The peak age for terminations last year was 19, with 35 in every 1,000 women that age undergoing the procedure.
Abortions among young girls rose, with 135 carried out on under-14s, 1,042 on girls under 15 and 3,990 on those under 16.
The proportion of under 18s having abortions last year rose slightly compared with 2005.
Almost nine out of 10 abortions were paid for by the NHS and eight out of 10 were for single women.
Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, which provides contraception and abortion services, said: "The fact that there has been such a percentage rise in the numbersof women having an abortion since 2005 isn't surprising given that contraceptive services are in crisis and at their lowest point for many years.
"Services are being cut and clinics are closing up and down the country.
"In England, the average amount spent on each woman's contraception is about £11. Some primary care trusts have admitted they spend just 18 pence.
"This is unbelievable and wouldn't be tolerated if it happened in another part of healthcare.
"This dire situation will continue to get worse unless primary care trusts and the Department of Health take urgent action."
Health minister Caroline Flint welcomed the fact more women were having abortions earlier in their pregnancy, when the risk of complications is reduced.
"However, the NHS needs to work harder to reduce the demand for abortions by improving access to contraception," she added.
"Primary care trusts have received an extra £40 million to improve access to contraceptive services."
Reader views (7)
I think Abortion is plain horrid. The mothers are letting medical trained people kill their own young. I think it should become illegal soon because the problem is going to get out of hand.
- Jessica Hulme, Beverley
I am sorry am I missing something here? Can't all these people get to the morning after pill or the men to a little shop called a chemist where you can buy durex or is the state now responsible for making sure the individuals put them on or swallow these devices? My access to contraception came from Boots and I had to pay for these myself.
- Fly, London
I don't know how any self-respecting minister could welcome these figure at all. They're a national tragedy symbolised by a record number of NHS staff unwilling to be a party to what is supposed to be a last resort. Alongside Britain's EU record rates of suicides, drug usage, sexual disease and depression, it is a monument to the complete lack of morality inherent in this Government and a peculiar minority of the population. Tolerance of any and all behaviour has blinded many of our young people to what is right and what is wrong.
- Dan, Surrey
It's ironic that earlier this week the government said it would review the law on smacking when it has this cavalier towards children who are not yet out of the womb. But the government cannot ignore the continuing cruelty to both the unborn and to their mothers by letting the numbers go on rising.
- Emma, London
This government will do nothing to increase sex education as they want to fill the pensions deficit and wrongly believe this and immigration are the way to do it. In the meantime I'd rather these women have abortions than become single parent families and rely on state handouts funded by the taxpayer, although I doubt that applies to all of them.
- Trevor Roll, London
Start charging some people for abortions,and they will soon find out about different forms of contraception.
- Kevin., Kent
The government's push to reduce NHS waiting times is leading to an increasing number of young, single women being pressured into having 'social' abortions, and having them in 'short order'. An increasing number of these abortions are chemical abortions - RU486. Even the manufacturers of RU-486 have said that the drug puts women through an appalling psychological ordeal. Moves to promote the fast-tracking of abortion are making women ever more vulnerable to the misinformation and pressure which often accompanies abortion decisions. Department of Health targets to rush through abortions make doctors reluctant to refer women for counselling. Without positive support an abortion can seem unavoidable - but may be bitterly regretted later on. The government's approach of promoting early abortion is increasing the overall number of abortions. Gordon Brown should end the Labour government's policy of rushing women as quickly as possible through the abortion mill, in its frenzy to cut waiting times. He should also end the policy of promoting secret abortions on teenagers without telling their parents, and he should stop the counter-productive sex-education programmes that the pro-abortion lobby promotes widely. Most people agree that there are far too many abortions already, and will be appalled at the latest increases. Unborn children deserve our care and protection from the earliest stages of pregnancy, and these figures reflect a tragedy of vast proportions for women and families.
- Anthony Ozimic, London, England
