Abortion figures reveal late operations

Data on the number of terminations after 24 weeks’ gestation show there were 147 such procedures in 2010.

In April, the anti-abortion group ProLife Alliance won the right for public access to data on women having abortions for a range of conditions affecting foetuses, including cleft palate.

The Department of Health had challenged the move, saying the numbers were so low it could lead to women being identified.

Abortion is legal in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy for disability reasons but also if the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s mental health. After 24 weeks, an abortion is allowed only if there is substantial risk of “serious” physical or mental abnormality, or the woman’s life is in danger.

Data on late abortions between 2002 and 2010 were released by the Department of Health yesterday and showed that last year, 66 terminations after 24 weeks were because of problems with the nervous system, such as spina bifida. No late abortions were carried out for cleft palate, although seven pregnancies were terminated before 24 weeks for that reason.

Eight terminations after 24 weeks were over problems with the musculoskeletal system, which could include club foot, while there were five abortions carried out before 24 weeks’ gestation for foot deformities.

A total of 29 terminations were for chromosomal problems, including 10 for Down’s syndrome.

In 2005, one baby was aborted after 24 weeks because of cleft palate – the only case recorded in the past eight years.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said: “The publication of these statistics after a campaign by the anti-abortion lobby reveals little more than their own vindictiveness.”