Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the process for recording complications on the abortion notification HSA4 form captures complications arising after the time of discharge for (a) at-home medical abortion and (b) other patients.

In accordance with the Abortion Act 1967 and the Abortion Regulations 1991, all abortions performed in England must be notified to the Chief Medical Officer within 14 days.  Any complication known at the time the notification is submitted should be recorded on the HSA4 abortion notification form.  Generally, the HSA4 form does not capture complications arising after the time of discharge for either at-home medical abortion or other patients.

In 2021, the Department conducted a review which identified where action could be taken to improve the quality of data available on abortion complications, including the impact of home use on abortion complication rates. Officials are now progressing this work.