Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, per their guidance note for completing HSA4 paper forms, which states, "You must use this section to record any complications that occurred up until the time of discharge from the place of termination", and their guidance note for completing HSA4 electronic forms, which states, “You must select any complications that occurred up until the time of discharge from the place of termination”, whether or how complications are tracked in cases where one or both medicines were administered at the patient’s usual place of residence or home, so as to ensure that proper care is provided should any complications arise and the appropriate reporting is undertaken.

Complications resulting from legal abortions in England and Wales are recorded on the HSA4 form until the patient has been discharged. For medical terminations where either both or the second stage was administered at the patient’s usual place of residence, complications are unlikely to be recorded on the HSA4 form after discharge. Complications are also recorded in other patient record systems such as Hospital Episodes Statistics, where the woman has attended a health service after being discharged.