Home abortion data

5 April 2022

Dear

ATISN 16200 – Home Abortion Data

Thank you for your request to the Welsh Government for information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) received on 24 March 2022 regarding home abortion data. You referred to ‘DIY abortions’ and we have assumed that you have meant ‘the home taken medication for abortions’ and requested the following:

1. All information regarding the home taken medication for abortions that have been carried out in Wales since 2020.
2. Information regarding all hospital treatments for women who have carried out the home taken medication for abortions and have been admitted to hospitals or received medical care both private and public settings.
3. The reasons given as to why the home taken medication for abortions were carried out.
4. How many cases of the home taken medication for abortions were successful and if there were subsequent hospital/medical assistance to women after the home taken medication for abortion, including psychological support.
5. How the home taken medication for abortions were carried out if they were unsuccessful.

Our response

1. Welsh Government does not hold the information you are requesting. National abortion data for England and Wales is held by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and can be found using the following link: Abortion statistics for England and Wales: 2020 (GOV.UK). Local level data is held by individual health boards. In order to comply with our obligations under Section 16 to advise and assist, I have provide contact details for the each of the health boards in annex 1 of this letter. Department of Health and Social Care can be contacted on the following: 

Department of Health and Social Care

Freedom of information (FOI) requests

Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Unit
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU

Contact the Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)
Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)

2. Welsh Government doesn’t hold the information you are requesting. You may wish to contact the health boards for information regarding the treatment and medical care provided. I have provided health board contact details in annex 1 of this letter.

3. 4. and 5. As above (2), Welsh Government does not hold this information and you may wish to contact the health boards for further information

Next steps

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response. Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at:

Information Rights Unit
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ 

or Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales

Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above.   

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process.

Yours sincerely

NHS Health Boards – Freedom of Information contacts

Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Headquarters, St Cadoc's Hospital
Lodge Road
Caerleon
Newport, NP18 3XQ
Email: FOI.ABB@wales.nhs.uk

Betsi Cadwaladr 
Information Governance Department
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
Sarn Lane
Bodelwyddan
Rhyl, LL18 5UJ
Email: bcu.foi@wales.nhs.uk

Cardiff and Vale
Cardiff and Vale UHB Headquarters
University Hospital of Wales (UHW)
Heath Park
Cardiff, CF14 4XW
Email: FOI.Requests@wales.nhs.uk  

Cwm Taf Morgannwg
Freedom of Information Officer
Cwm Taf Health Board
Ynysmeurig House
Navigation Park
Abercynon, CF45 4SN
E-mail: freedomofinformation@wales.nhs.uk

Hywel Dda
The Freedom of Information Officer
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Corporate Offices
Ystwyth Building
St David's Park
Job's Well Road
Carmarthen, SA31 3BB       
Email: FOI.HywelDda@wales.nhs.uk

Powys Teaching Health Board
Information Governance Team
Quality & Safety Unit
Training Department, Bronllys Hospital
Bronllys
Brecon
Powys, LD3 0LS
Email: foi.foi@wales.nhs.uk

Swansea Bay University Health Board
FOIA Team
Swansea Bay University Health Board
1 Talbot Gateway
Baglan Energy Park
Port Talbot, SA12 7BR   
Email: FOIA.Requests@wales.nhs.uk

Velindre NHS Trust
Communications Team
Velindre NHS Trust Headquarters
Unit 2 Charnwood Court
Parc Nantgarw
Nantgarw
Cardiff, CF15 7QZ
Email: Corporate.Services2@wales.nhs.uk 

WAST
Welsh Ambulance Service (NHS) Trust
H.M. Stanley Hospital
St Asaph
Denbighshire, LL17 0RS
Email: FOI.amb@wales.nhs.uk

Public Health Wales
Freedom of Information Office
Public Health Wales
Floor 3, 2 Capital Quarter
Tyndall Street
Cardiff, CF10 4BZ
Email: foi.phw@wales.nhs.uk
PHW website