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On 3 February an episode of Call the Midwife aired, in which a character died as a result of an illegal backstreet abortion. At the end of the programme the BBC Action Line was advertised to viewers, however there was no information about abortion services or support.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) contacted the BBC, who responded to say that they could not be seen to support “one side or the other” on this “contentious” issue.
On 14 February, organisations from across the sexual and reproductive health sector, including Brook, co-signed an open letter to the BBC asking that they provide signposting to abortion information and support. The letter, which was picked up widely in the media, reads:
We were disappointed by this response, which we believe is based on a misunderstanding of women’s reproductive healthcare and lives.
“Abortion is not a “contentious issue”– it is a routine part of NHS-funded healthcare, provided by doctors, nurses, and midwives every day in hospitals and clinics across the country.
“This is highly stigmatising for the healthcare professionals we represent and the women we care for.”
On 17 February the BBC agreed to update the Action Line following further pressure from almost 100 MPs, however the link is not very clearly signposted so bpas will follow up with the Director General to discuss this and the representation of abortion more broadly across the BBC.
For media enquiries please contact Brook's press office on 07789 682831 or email press@brook.org.uk
Notes to editors
Brook believes that young people should have access to great sexual health services and wellbeing support.
Brook provides free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and education programmes, reaching nearly 235,000 young people nationwide every year.
Read our Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and learn more about the difference we make in our latest Success Report.
