Figures show a RECORD number of women in Herefordshire had abortions over the past year, while home treatment rules were relaxed.
The availability of home abortion pill treatments during the Covid-19 pandemic is believed to be responsible for a surge in procedures across England and Wales, pregnancy experts say.
In 2020, a total of 467 abortions were reported in Herefordshire, according to figures from the Department of Health and Welfare, up from 409 in 2019.
It was also the highest number since comparable local numbers began in 2012.
Across England and Wales, 209,917 resident abortions were recorded in 2020 – a 2% increase from 207,384 in 2019 and a record since the numbers were first published.
The proportion of medical and non-surgical abortions increased from 73% in 2019 to 85% in 2020.
The increase is due in part to a temporary change in government policy allowing women to take the two pills, allowing early abortion in their own home, the DHSC said.
By April last year, the first pill, mifepristone, had to be taken in a registered clinic or hospital.
A proposal to make the rule change permanent is currently being examined.
The UK pregnancy counseling service said home abortions were “transformative” for women, adding that transportation problems, job insecurity and abusive relationships had previously led some to receive treatment illegally.
Clare Murphy, the group’s CEO, said, “The increase in the number could reflect the fact that women no longer need to seek help outside of regulated providers because of legal premature abortion at home.”
She added: “It didn’t take a pandemic to know that the ability to access early abortion at home would mean change for women, especially in the most difficult of circumstances.
But the pro-life group Right To Life said they have concerns about so-called “DIY” home abortions, claiming they are not always safe and prone to abuse.
The group claims that women do not have basic checkups before the procedure and that women in late pregnancy can also receive home treatment.
A spokesman said: “Since the government allowed home improvement abortions, many stories of illegal late-night abortions and security breaches have come to light.”
Herefordshire had the largest increase in the abortion rate among women between the ages of 30 and 34, rising from 14 abortions per 1,000 women in 2019 to 20 last year.
However, the procedure was most common in women between the ages of 20 and 24, with a rate of 28 per 1,000 women in 2020.
The DHSC said it expected to make a decision on its home abortion proposal later this year after a three-month consultation that ended in February.
A spokesperson added, “Secure and continuous access to critical services has been and is our priority.”