// BBC HEALTH NEWS — SALUTE
'Women from Wales come to my London clinic because of inadequate abortion care'
Dr Ed Dorman said one young woman continued her pregnancy because she didn't feel "financially able" to travel for an abortion
Some women in Wales could be forced into continuing unwanted pregnancies because of inadequate surgical abortion care, according to a senior obstetrician.
Dr Ed Dorman said he treated women from Wales every other week at a British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinic in London but is worried about the "unknown number" who he said had little choice but to continue their pregnancies.
BBC Wales has been told women from Wales face the added "trauma" of travelling to England for care after 18 weeks of pregnancy.
The Welsh government said it was working with NHS Wales to identify and address the barriers to providing surgical abortion services locally.
In Wales, England and Scotland abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks of pregnancy with the approval of two doctors.
About 90% of women who choose to end a pregnancy have a medical abortion which involves taking tablets at home.
After 10 weeks of pregnancy a medical abortion can be done at a clinic or hospital, or women can have a short medical procedure, known as a surgical abortion.
Dr Jane Dickson, who represents the British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) in Wales, said surgical abortions could be faster and offer women quicker recovery times - but were rarely available in Wales, forcing women to travel over the border into England for care.
She added that conscientious objection in Wales – where staff can refuse to take part in care on moral or religious grounds – was "widespread" and making a "bad situation" with provision worse.