Pro-life group steps up outreach to women patients as health department contradicts itself on abortion London, : A leading pro-life group is intensifying its campaign to inform women-patients and their doctors about the dangers of abortion, in response to a government proposal to increase access to abortion.

The Department of Health's white paper, "Healthy Lives, Healthy People", published today, proposes "easy access" to abortion (see note 1 below).

The proposal contradicts last month's claim made by Anne Milton, the public health minister, that "[f]or me and for the Government, reducing the abortion rate is an absolute priority" (note 2) Paul Tully, SPUC’s general secretary said: "Easy access to abortion will mean high abortion rates and consequent damage to women’s health and happiness. The previous government’s teenage pregnancy strategy, which promoted easy access to abortion and contraception, saw an increase of 2,000 abortions a year in England and Wales among teenagers. It is time for something different." In recent months SPUC has been sending information to GPs, briefing them about the reality and dangers of abortion, so they can in turn inform their patients who are pregnant and who may be considering abortion. SPUC will now intensify that campaign in the light of the government's proposal. Notes: 1) section 3.43: "We will work towards an integrated model of service delivery to allow easy access to confidential, non-judgemental sexual health services (including for sexually transmitted infections, contraception, abortion, health promotion and prevention)." 2) House of Commons debate, 2 November 2010.