South West MPs urged to vote against Dorries' abortion amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill

Equality South West is today [Wednesday] calling on the region's MPs to vote against Nadine Dorries' abortion amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, currently going through the House of Commons.

The amendment, originally supported by Prime Minister David Cameron but now opposed by him in the face of growing public concern, could see impartial counselling services replaced by those provided by anti-abortion groups.

Katie Pratt, Chief Executive of Equality South West, said: "We are calling our MPs to stand up for access to safe, legal abortion and the right to impartial information.

"We believe women must be trusted to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and that all information they receive should be evidence-based and impartial.

"We're concerned organisations opposed to abortion would not offer unbiased advice, instead seeking to misinform and dissuade women from accessing abortion services.

"The amendment is damaging, unnecessary and should be rejected."

Equality South West has other concerns about the Bill, especially about the provision of medical care for those on low incomes.

Katie Pratt said: "If the NHS becomes a marketplace, those with the most money can jump the queue for treatment while those in the lower-income bracket, who tend to be women and BME people, will have to wait.

"We want an NHS that is equal, that provides the same level of service to everyone, regardless of where they live or what they earn."