With regards to the e-consultation for early medical abortion at home, as referred to in the consultation Termination of pregnancy arrangements in Wales, will the Minister explain how the Welsh Government will ensure that information provided by women is accurate and not the result of domestic abuse or coercion?
Early Medical Abortion (EMA) at home assessments by phone or video call are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). These consultations take place via video-link or on the telephone, but experience from providers who regularly use telemedicine shows that both women and staff value video-links, with solutions that can be delivered from a mobile phone without the need to download additional software being easiest to implement.
Provided appropriate information governance safeguards are in place, a woman may provide their medical and other history using an online history form transmitted to the provider prior to the consultation.
Safeguarding is an essential part of the assessment for abortion care, and providers should follow their processes and assess each case on an individual basis. Clinicians have identified no difficulty in assessing duress during video or telephone conversations. Remote consultation may enable vulnerable women, for example those with a coercive partner, to access care more discreetly, especially during COVID-19 and lockdown.
Clinicians providing Early Medical Abortion at home provision have provided assurance that they have no concern about missing such cases when using telemedicine. The telemedicine process provides women with a reliable confidential point of care and follow-up appointments have confirmed that women are comfortable accessing the service.