NHS health board admits 'no competence' in later abortion care
The FOI response from NHS GGC to The Herald in May showed there are currently 40 staff trained to provide the care in the health board up to the gestational legal limit.
However, this month, their communications team said this was a "mistake".
In the FOI, The Herald asked the board to reveal 'the number of staff members trained to provide abortion care up to the legal limit.'
The [[Freedom of Information]] team responded: 'QEUH [Queen Elizabeth University Hospital] 20, RAH [Royal Alexandra Hospital] 20'.
Asked for a comment on these figures, NHS GGC communications team told The Herald: 'There was a mistake with the FOI.
"It said that 20 members of staff at the QEUH and the RAH could provide abortion care up to the legal limit.
'To clarify, as per our previous response, NHS GGC offers termination of pregnancy for all up to 20 weeks of gestation.
'We are aware discussions are ongoing at a national level with the Scottish Government about abortion care. We recommend reaching out to them for comment.'
READ MORE:
No qualified surgeons on panel to advise Scottish Government
Minister criticised for backtracking on abortion care comments
Labour MP calls for Scotland to decriminalise abortion
When asked on several occasions to provide an amended figure, they later told The Herald: "We only carry out procedures up to 20 weeks. Consequently, the staff do not have the practical competence or experience required for cases beyond 20 weeks."
However, asked for clarity on the staffing figures, a Freedom of Information Officer for the health board said the numbers provided in the FOI response were correct.
A Freedom of Information Officer said: "In response to your query, we can confirm that the numbers provided relate to the total number of staff."
Yet, on Wednesday this week, the FOI team re-iterated the statement from NHS GGC, stating there is no "practical competence or experience required for cases beyond 20 weeks'.
In May this year, The Herald was informed that there are two fully qualified surgeons who can provide the care up to the legal limit.
The admission and confusion comes as, across Scotland, one woman every four days is forced to travel down to England for an abortion they cannot be provided for in Scotland.
Currently, no health board here is able to provide the care up to the legal limit, unless under exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional circumstances include when a woman has a foetal anomaly but they do not cover 'ground C' cases such as 'social reasons' which can also include rape victims.
NHS GGC has said their pregnancy termination services are delivered "in line with the national position" and the care they provide "in all cases" is "informed by clinical need."
The Herald understands 65 women were sent to England by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board in the last 5 years.
In the same period, approximately 20 women are believed to have paid privately for the care and made the journey down south.
Across Scotland, in 2024, there were 88 women from Scotland treated by the charity British Pregnancy Advisory Service at abortion clinics in England, up from 67 the year before.
The Scottish Government's 2021 Women's Health Plan had an aim that 'all women will have a choice about how and where they access abortion care'.
During their conference in 2022, the SNP committed to ensuring abortion services are available up to the legal limit of 24 weeks for all patients.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has called on the Scottish Government to establish a national facility to provide the care.
Ministers have set up a Task and Finish Group to ensure "equitable access" to abortion services up to the legal gestational limit within Scotland, "as soon as possible."
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto has said she has written to the chair of the group urging them to report back within six months and provide 'an expert view' on establishing a later stage abortion service in Scotland.
Jenni Minto (Image: Scottish Government) The Scottish Government has also committed to pay for training for any clinician who wishes to provide later stage abortions.
Public Health Minister Ms Minto said: 'I empathise with all women who must travel to access abortion services. Together with NHS Boards and other key partners we are working to support women and establish equitable access to abortion services up to the legal gestational limit, as soon as possible.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman, 48, dies suddenly in Alicante airport on her way back from 'best holiday'
Angela McTier, 48, from Lanarkshire, was heading to Alicante airport in a taxi to fly home after a break in La Mata in south east Spain when she was suddenly taken ill A Scottish grandmother tragically passed away at a Spanish airport whilst returning from her holiday. Angela McTier, from Blantyre in Lanarkshire, was travelling to Alicante airport in a taxi when she suffered a burst varicose vein, resulting in severe blood loss. The 48 year old made it to the airport but collapsed in the departure lounge. Sadly, despite emergency treatment, she passed away at the scene on Tuesday July 22. Her daughter, Michelle Hilston, told STV that her mum had been working to get healthier so she could see her granddaughters grow up. The 24 year old said: "My mum watched the grandkids at least two nights every week and always looked forward to them coming over. I'm heartbroken for my two girls who have just lost that special relationship with her. If there's one thing my mum loved, it was going on holiday, she thrived over there and this particular holiday to La Mata she just kept saying how amazing it was, it was her best holiday and she'd felt so well and couldn't wait to bring the grandkids over. "She was due to go away with me and my two toddlers next month as well." Michelle disclosed that her mum provided crucial help when she was studying for a midwifery degree. She sent her mum a video of her 11-month-old granddaughter taking her first steps, reports the Daily Record. Michelle added: "She helped me out so much to pursue my dream degree after having my kids and always made sure I had all the childcare and financial support I needed. Her holidays were a special thing for her, she went multiple times a year, and it was one of the things she loved doing the most. "But the thing she loved the most was her granddaughters and would ask for pictures of them multiple times a day. The day she died, I had sent her a video of my 11-month-old finally walking, and she was in tears over the video, phoning everyone to tell them, and I'm glad that's the last video she saw of the kids." A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Spain." A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with the expenses of bringing Angela home and covering her funeral costs. You can donate to the fundriser by clicking here.
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Over 260,000 Scots out of work due to long term sickness or disability
EXCLUSIVE: The figures have prompted calls for the SNP Government to give people the support they need to get back to work. Over a quarter of a million Scots are out of work due to long-term sickness or having a disability after a rise caused by the pandemic. The SNP Government has now been urged to invest more in mental health and the NHS to help people back find jobs. Keir Starmer's Labour Government recently proposed tightening eligibility for disability and sickness benefits in a bid to slow the rate of social security spending. But the bulk of the plan was ditched amid claims people who genuinely need to be on benefits would be harmed. Despite the u-turn, Labour sources believe action will have to be taken by the UK and Scottish Governments to get people back into jobs. New figures reveal there are an estimated 269,000 people in Scotland aged 16-64 who gave their reason for being inactive as long-term sick or disabled. It works out at around one third of Scotland's economically inactive people in the same age group. This includes 35,200 people in Glasgow, 16,100 in North Lanarkshire, 14,100 in Fife, 14,000 in Edinburgh and 12,800 in South Lanarkshire. Critics say First Minister John Swinney needs to use his devolved powers to help people who can work into jobs. It was recently reported that Scots on disability benefits for conditions such as anxiety and depression are costing the taxpayer more than £1.3bn a year. Lib Dem MSP Jamie Greene, who uncovered the 269,000 figure, said: 'These figures show that across Scotland there are huge numbers who are economically inactive because they are off long-term sick. 'Of course, there will always be some for whom paid work is not a feasible option but for many more, if they got the right care, the right mental health support or the right career advice, they could find a role that fits them and their needs. 'It seems ridiculous that around five times more is being spent on social security payments for people with mental health conditions than is being specifically dedicated to helping them through the NHS and back into the workplace. 'Similarly, people waiting on autism and ADHD diagnoses are facing waiting lists that stretch into the years. 'We should be investing in the NHS to bring down these long waits. Not only is that the compassionate approach, but it would also be the sensible one economically, allowing people to get back to work. "The Scottish Government need to work urgently with health boards and local authorities on a new plan to support those who are long-term sick; one that tackles long waits for care, invests in mental health and offers tailored advice and support for those who need it.' Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said: 'It's clear far too many Scots are being locked out of work as a result of the SNP 's disastrous mismanagement of our health and social care systems. 'Under the SNP almost one in six Scots are stuck on NHS waiting lists, over 100,000 people have been waiting over a year, and ADHD and autism services have been effectively privatised. "As someone with ADHD, it makes me angry that the SNP is consigning people with ADHD and autism to the employment scrapheap. 'The SNP is robbing hundreds of thousands of Scots of their livelihoods and holding back our economy – it is time for a new direction.' However, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: 'Jamie Greene is correct that the Scottish Government should invest more into occupational health services and our healthcare system more generally. 'But he risks robbing Peter to pay Paul if he thinks that investment in mental health can come from social security budgets. Disability payments are a lifeline and prevent people falling into further ill-health. He is misguided to think that government savings should therefore be borne on the backs of the sick, disabled or those living with long term health conditions. 'With a growing blackhole in the public finances, projected to be £2.2 billion by 2030, the Scottish Government, if they properly use their powers of taxation, can afford to both give dignity and security to the long-term sick whilst fully funding our public services and creating well paid, secure jobs for those who need it. 'Progressive income and wealth taxes could enable the best of both worlds: a route into gainful employment whilst still providing a safety net for those in need of assistance. That's the route out of economic inactivity and we would encourage Mr Greene and his party to turn their attention to the wealthy instead of those on welfare.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'There will always be some people whose health conditions mean they cannot work, and they should be supported with dignity and respect. It is unacceptable that the UK Government is introducing a two-tier system which reduces the health element of Universal Credit for new applications and will see people losing around £3000 per year by 2029-30. Removing barriers for those who can enter the workplace is a priority for the Scottish Government. 'This is why we are improving our employability support services, including enhanced specialist support for people with disabilities and long term health conditions across all 32 local authorities in July 2025, and increasing access to health board services which support people in work.'
Edinburgh Reporter
a day ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Stroke patients left waiting as Scottish Government fails to deliver
Every weekend, stroke patients across Scotland are left waiting for care – a consequence of The Scottish Government's failure to implement the national stroke service it pledged more than two years ago. Despite a clear commitment to deliver round-the-clock treatment, hundreds of patients are still being denied access to thrombectomy, one of the most effective and time-critical stroke interventions available. This procedure, which removes blood clots from the brain, can triple a patient's chance of regaining independence after an ischaemic stroke. Yet access to it remains severely restricted. Currently, only NHS Lothian offers the service seven days a week. That means a patient in Edinburgh may be treated within hours, while someone in nearby Fife may have to wait until Monday, missing the critical window for intervention and facing a much greater risk of lifelong disability. In 2023, only 153 patients in Scotland received a thrombectomy, despite clinical estimates suggesting nearly 1,000 people were eligible. That's not a system under pressure; that's a system failing by design. I questioned the Scottish Government on this issue, but we are still awaiting meaningful answers. More than two years have passed since the Stroke Improvement Plan was published, and implementation has stalled. Most health boards remain limited to weekday hours, a shocking shortfall when stroke outcomes are measured in minutes. I recently met with the Stroke Association, whose tireless advocacy has been central to the campaign for a fully funded, nationwide thrombectomy service. They report that the procedure could save the NHS up to £47,000 per patient in long-term care, underscoring both its clinical and economic value. Meanwhile, other nations are moving ahead. In Ireland, nearly 9% of stroke patients receive a thrombectomy, six times the rate in Scotland. Clinicians across NHS Scotland say they have the expertise and are ready to expand the service, but lack the necessary resources, infrastructure, and national coordination. Stroke survivors shouldn't face worse outcomes because of their postcode or the day they fall ill. The time for reviews is over. The Scottish Government must act because the longer we wait, the more lives we put at risk. Foysol Choudhury MSP signs the pledge Like this: Like Related
