Sir, - As the UK's largest independent abortion provider, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service would like to take issue with Dr M.G. Salter's attempt (June 21st) to deny the numbers of Irish women seeking abortions in Britain.
Dr Salter is wrong in respect of a number of issues. There is no advantage for women resident in England in giving Irish addresses. Women travelling from Ireland are subject to exactly the same legal criteria for abortion as women resident in England and Wales. Figures relating to resident requirements are taken from official notification forms.
Furthermore, since 75 per cent of abortions for women resident in England and Wales are paid for by the National Health Service, it would seem illogical for women to deliberately make themselves ineligible by claiming overseas residency.
We are pleased that Dr Salter acknowledges that few women with post-abortion physical or psychological morbidity enter the Irish healthcare system. However, this is because the incidence of physical and psychological morbidity following abortion is low in general.
This illustrates how safe abortion is when provided in a legal medical environment. - Yours, etc.,
Ann Furedi, Director of Communications, British Pregnancy Advisory Service, London WC1.