Thank you for contacting me, and for making clear your view about the changes that have been put in place to avoid women having to make a physical visit to a hospital or clinic to secure a medical abortion.
During the pandemic, it has been particularly important to protect pregnant women who are classed as clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 by the NHS.
Whilst face-to-face consultations were not advised for pregnant women due to the risk from coronavirus, it has still been necessary for women to have a full consultation with a doctor over the telephone in order to obtain a prescription and to receive the correct medical guidance.
These changes were introduced as a time-limited measure while there was a specific threat to the health of pregnant women from COVID-19. I understand that since then, a consultation has been held on whether or not the measures should be made permanent. Any such change would of course be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, and I would expect this to be a free vote issue.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/home-use-of-both-pills-for-early-medical-abortion
With regard to the Early Day Motions on this subject that some constituents have mentioned, I do not sign EDMs as I have not found them to be an effective means of influencing Government policy.
Thank you again for writing to me.