Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have uncovered the aborted remains of unborn babies dumped at room temperature in a utility room at an abortion facility in Tipton, Sandwell. The facility is operated by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).
CQC investigators have highlighted “shortfalls in the governance arrangements for the storage and disposal of pregnancy remains” at a BPAS abortion facility in Tipton after an inspection on 16 March 2022.
The CQC report states that the body parts discovered at BPAS Sandwell “were not stored appropriately and were left at room temperature until the next collection”. The aborted remains of an unspecified number of babies were abandoned “in an unlocked utility room and were not stored appropriately in a freezer”.
The CQC also states that “[BPAS] staff were unclear about the frequency of collection and said pregnancy remains were collected every two weeks”.
695 medical abortions and 187 surgical abortions took place at BPAS Sandwell between March 2021 and February 2022.
The CQC has also criticised the facility’s lack of a specific paediatric early warning score tool for use with children under the age of 16 years undergoing surgical terminations of pregnancy. At least one under 16-year-old girl is known to have had a surgical abortion at BPAS Sandwell within the last year.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “BPAS has a record of repeated failings documented by the CQC. This latest discovery, though shocking, is hardly surprising. Last year, three BPAS abortion facilities were put into special measures after the CQC found that women having abortions there were being exposed to harm.
“BPAS Sandwell is just the latest such facility proven to have a careless attitude towards the body parts of dead babies as well as the live bodies of under 16-year-old girls.
“The abortion industry must be held accountable for its appalling record and careless disregard for human life, as attested to time and time again by the CQC.”
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