12:20pm Friday 26th June 2009
NEWLY-RELEASED figures from the county’s health trusts reveal for the first time the number of Essex women who have had abortions.
The figures have been published in response to pressure from Essex MP David Amess, a prominent Roman Catholic, who wants the law on abortion to be tightened.
Across the whole of Essex, 5,438 women and girls had abortions in 2008 – with 110 girls under the age of 16 and 535 under 18 opting for the procedure.
Broken down by primary care trust area, the figures show more than twice as many women in south west Essex had terminations than in north east Essex.
NHS North East Essex, which looks after about 315,000 patients in Colchester borough and the Tendring district, recorded the county’s lowest number of abortions, 760 and also the second lowest number of girls under 16 given terminations.
In stark contrast, the NHS South West Essex trust looks after a total of 420,000 patients in the Basildon district and Thurrock and Brentwood boroughs and reported 1,611 abortions in 2008, the highest number of any Essex trust area.
The trust also reported the highest number of terminations on girls under 16 – a total of 36.
The second largest number of underage girls having abortions was in the NHS South East Essex area, covering Rochford district and Southend, Rochford and Castle Point boroughs. It carried out 24 abortions on girls under 16.
The trust cares for 342,500 patients and recorded the third highest overall number of abortions, 1,048, only marginally fewer than the West Essex trust total of 1,087.
The figures were collated and published by the trusts in response to a written Parliamentary question by David Amess, MP for Southend West.
Mr Amess, a prominent Roman Catholic and father-of-five, wants the 24-week legal abortion limit to be lowered.
He said: “I think the figures speak for themselves.
“My views on abortion are a matter of public record since I was first elected to Parliament. “I much regret when any abortion is necessary, let alone the huge numbers which are carried out today.”
NHS North East Essex’s figures show the overall number of abortions it recorded has remained stable in recent years.
Krishna Ramkhelawon, the trust’s assistant director for public health, said: “We had 765 abortions in 2007 and 760 in 2008, so there’s no real change.
“NHS North East Essex continues to provide an excellent pregnancy prevention service and support locally.”
The trust has promised to keep looking at new ways to dissuade young women from falling pregnant.
But it says it is also committed to ensure women who decide to have a termination “can get this service close to their homes, or at another centre as they choose, with an excellent pre- and post counselling support service.”
Teenagers are a prime target for sexual health education for all the trusts.
Many are now hiring staff to specialise in helping young women. One such is teenage pregnancy co-ordinator Chris Clark. She said: “We are doing our best to make sure we cut the number of unwanted pregnancies, but we want to make sure young people know they have a choice.
“Teenagers have options. We need to see them early in pregnancy to support them and help them make their decision. Just as important is to make sure they can get the right sort of contraception, such as the coil, an implant or an injection.”
Next month, secondary schools across the county will play host to touring educational plays and workshops, aimed at sending out positive messages about unprotected casual sex, the risks of unprotected sex and relationships in general.
Amanda Barlow, of NHS South West Essex adds: “If a woman feels an abortion is in her best interests, she should have access to safe, supportive and non-judgmental advice and help from an expert.
“We always support a woman's right to choose. Full counselling is provided to women before and after an abortion.”
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