It's 4pm on Friday, it's nearly the weekend, we are all in lockdown 3 (or 4?) it's time for...

A THREAD ABOUT NEW TELEMEDICAL ABORTION CARE RESEARCH WHICH PROVES WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT WE RETAIN THIS SERVICE.

A study published today in @BMJ_SRH analysing clinical notes and interviews with over 600 women in Scotland has found that telemedicine abortion is

Safe
Effective and
Preferable for many women!

Researchers found that 98% of women who ended their pregnancy by telemedicine had a complete abortion and required no further treatment. An overwhelming majority (95%) said the service was acceptable and that they felt prepared to administer their treatment at home.

Telemedical abortion care was introduced in Great Britain as a *temporary* measure during the pandemic. We are fighting to ensure that this service is safeguarded for the future.

Prior to telemedical abortion care, women were forced to travel for clinically unnecessary in-person appointments.

While it is an enjoyable film, planes, trains, and automobiles - and an ability to pay for transport - should not be required to access essential healthcare.

Women who could not access in-clinic care - including those experiencing domestic violence, those with mobility issues, those with caring responsibilities - were forced to risk up to life imprisonment by using abortion medication purchased online.

Angry yet?!

It only took a tiny little global pandemic for the government to *finally* permit telemedical abortion care.

This means women can currently have a consultation from the privacy of their own home, and receive medication by post if they are clinically suitable.

BUT despite telemedical care being safe and effective, there is a real risk that the service could be revoked.

Ministers are considering whether to keep telemedicine - or once again compel women to attend unnecessary clinic appointments.

(Yep, I can't understand it either...)

In England and Wales, public consultations are running on the future of telemedical abortion care.

We need you to make your voice heard and help to protect access to this service for all those who may need it.

SO PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES and respond to the government consultations - you don't need to answer all the questions, and we also have a handy guide, all via this link: https://linktr.ee/BPAS1968 

(come on, what else were you going to do, it's lockdown 3.0!)

Once you have completed the consultation, send it to your friends, family, the neighbours who you met when we used to clap out the window - anyone!!

Just don't be Lucille, ok?

And if you want to push the boat out, why not become a Friend of BPAS? Every donation goes towards our work to secure reproductive rights for all.

https://friendsofbpas.org/ 

BUT above all - please take 5 minutes out of your hectic Netflix and Cry schedule and complete the consultations.

All the links for the consultations and our handy guides are here: https://linktr.ee/BPAS1968 

THANK YOU!