A Doncaster abortion clinic has received a damning report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC.)The clinic run by BPAS has been called out by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children for putting women’s health at risk. The CQC report is a litany of health and safety abuses and puts a spotlight on the cases of inappropriate treatment for girls as young as 13 undergoing surgical abortions.
Alithea Williams of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said: ‘This is yet another BPAS clinic which is putting women’s health and safety at risk. And there is no safety at all for the thousands of unborn babies who are killed in the clinic.’
The CQC inspectors reported that ‘Care and treatment was not always provided in a safe way for patients.’ The Doncaster BPAS clinic has been ordered to improve.
Alithea Williams said: ‘The CQC gives a chilling insight into an abortion clinic. The only improvement for such a clinic in a civilised society is to close it down. We urgently need to rethink abortion as a solution for women in need.’
A particularly damning section of the report highlighted the case of a 15-year-old girl who had developed sepsis, which could have been treated quickly had early warning scores (MEWS) been completed when the girl was admitted. In addition, girls as young as 13 having surgical abortions were being treated in the same way as adults.
Alithea Williams said: ‘Under-age girls having abortions should send out warning signs. Why were they presenting for abortion? Were there issues of coercion or abuse in these cases? These are the questions BPAS should have been asking and acting upon if they really cared about the children coming into their clinic.’
In the year- long reporting period, eight patients were transferred out to another hospital for emergency treatment. One such incident actually happened while the inspectors were there
In a report published last week following an unannounced inspection last October, the CQC found that the clinic breached Regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment.
The safety regulation was not met because:
· Not all equipment met infection and prevention control requirements at all times. This meant that patients could be put at risk of infection when undergoing surgical termination of pregnancy.
· The service did not use a paediatric specific early warning score for young patients
· There was ineffective management of waiting lists, which meant that patients were not always provided with treatment within 10 working days
· Not all risks to performance measures were recorded and acted upon
Alithea Williams said: ‘This is an appalling list of safety breaches. The BPAS clinic has been told to improve by the CQC. The only real improvement for any abortion clinic is to close it down. Women need help and support not abortion. ‘
Alithea Williams can be called on 020 7820 3121 The CQC report can be seen here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-129168540