NI women to get abortions on NHS in England

[whoputthecatout]

[www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40438390]

Well, I suppose something good had to come out of cosying up to the DUP!

[IndominusRex]

As well as this, today the BMA voted not to support full decrim model on prostitution. So 2 feminist victories in 1 day!

[VestalVirgin]

Well, I'm glad something good came from it!

[BringMeTea]

Good news.

[M0stlyBowlingHedgehog]

Hooray for the women of NI. And hooray for the BMA. They are pretty sane. (They're also pushing for decrim of abortion).

Though the question of where women will find the airfare to England and somewhere to stay remains an open question.

[Elendon]

can you explain to me OP how cosying up to the DUP got this through?

I would have thought that it was a backlash, and it worked.

Not that the supply and rule agreement actually meant this to happen.

However, I'm delighted that those women who seek abortions outside of Northern Ireland can now save themselves £900. They still have to book flights and/or a ferry plus accommodation. It's still a victory though, of sorts.

[msrisotto]

Yay I suppose but it's still an embarrassment that they/we were forced to resort to this.

[AndTakeYourHorseWithYou]

It's still exporting the problem. It still means high costs, later abortions, less access, more stigma. It's a start but its a hollow victory.

[Alittlepotofrosie]

Well its not really a victory is it? A victory would be abortions being available in NI the way they are here.

[VestalVirgin]

Though the question of where women will find the airfare to England and somewhere to stay remains an open question.

I think I read somewhere that, in Germany, feminists rented buses and openly advertised for "abortion trips" to the Netherlands back when abortions were illegal (and punished; technically they're still illegal) in Germany.
Apparently it worked and police didn't dare to attack, as violently pulling women out of the bus would have looked rather bad in the media.

Not as easy with the ferry, but perhaps something can be done to reduce cost for those in need? A "pay what you can afford" scheme or something.

[Elendon]

But the supply and demand (not rule) agreement with the DUP means that this was never going to be paid for by the NHS in Northern Ireland. This is extra tax upon those in Scotland and England and Wales. For a few thousand women who need this vital aspect of health care. I hope it comes out of the 1.5 billion the DUP got for this supply and demand agreement.

[Elendon]

MOstly I do hope the BMA get through the decrim of abortion. That would really be a victory for all.

[M0stlyBowlingHedgehog]

Elendon, one of the interesting (and shocking) things I've discovered on here in the last few weeks (backed up by googling reputable news sources) is that Scotland also exports its abortions to England; there are next to no hospitals in Scotland which will do late term surgical abortions, so several hundred women a year travel to England for late procedures.

[SpaghettiAndMeatballs]

so several hundred women a year travel to England for late procedures

Those poor women. Not only being in that situation, but having to do it miles from home and family.

[whoputthecatout]

can you explain to me OP how cosying up to the DUP got this through?

I would have thought that it was a backlash, and it worked.

Yes, technically a backlash... but if the govt had not tied up with the DUP then NI women would still be paying for abortions in England.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

This is brilliant news. Thank you to all the UK MPs and MNetters who helped make it happen.

[HelsinkiLights]

Just wondering if this thread should be moved to chat for more traffic?

[Elendon]

MOstly There are also GPs in England who will not refer a woman to an abortion clinic and I know this from my own personal experience.

[FlaviaAlbia]

@Alittlepotofrosie speaking as someone from NI, on this I'll take what I can get and keep on aiming for more in future. It feels like a huge victory from my point of view.

[AssignedMentalAtBirth]

On C4 now. Fucking outrageous.

But some good has come from the DUP disaster

[EyeHalveASpellingChequer]

This is extra tax upon those in Scotland and England and Wales.

People who live in Northern Ireland pay tax to HMRC as well.

[Elendon]

But those who go from Northern Ireland to the UK to have abortions will not now be charged. It will now come out of the NHS England's bill (and it's mostly England). The NHS England will be supplemented by the Government now for this.

[Elendon]

In other words the NHS in Northern Ireland, despite women working there and paying taxes will not be charged.

[FlaviaAlbia]

Do you begrudge it Elendon?

[polkadotsrock]

I'd happily house those women for free. And I live very near the ferry, I'd bloody drive them to their appointments too. Where might one advertise this??

[Londonbum]

Polka, see here about hosting? www.asn.org.uk/volunteer/