Ten abortions in Western area during 2007-08

HEALTH records show that 10 abortions were carried out in the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) in 2007/8 although no figures are available for any of the other last five years as they have been “masked to protect patient confidentiality.”

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Jun 2011, 12:02 BST

Across Northern Ireland 394 abortions were carried out between 2005/6 and 2009/10.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister asked the Health Minister Edwin Poots to detail the number of abortions which have been carried out in each Health and Social Care Trust area in each of the last five years; and the reasons for each abortion.

Details for the number of abortions in the Western Trust were only available for 2007/8.

The Minister explained that in line with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) guidance, the details for WHSCT for 2005/6, 2006/7, 2008/9 and 2009/10 were withheld to protect patient confidentiality. Information on the reasons for abortions is not collected centrally.