To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 1 December (HL3358), how many letters were sent to registered medical practitioners by officials to remind them of their legal obligation to report terminations of pregnancy within 14 days, in each of the last five years for which records are available.
Answered on
19 December 2016
The Department does not hold a record of how many letters have been sent out in each of the last five years.
The Department has not reported to the police any incidents of suspected violation of the Act and Regulations relating to Registered Medical Practitioners terminating a pregnancy who have not given notice in form HSA4 to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) within 14 days of the termination. Where HSA4 forms have been submitted late, the Department is working closely with doctors, hospitals/clinics and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The Department is helping to identify issues with HSA4 submission to support doctors, hospitals and clinics in ensuring that protocols and processes exist internally to ensure the transmission of HSA4 forms meets the legislative framework. The Department currently receives around two-thirds of HSA4 forms electronically and is actively encouraging more doctors to submit HSA4 forms online. Receiving HSA4 forms online reduces the risk of late submission of forms to the CMO.