Latest News

The ASN network of hosts

The ASN are looking to set up a network of hosts in Birmingham to help accommodate the women who travel to the Clinic. To host, you need a place a guest can sleep and the willingness to create the space in your life for this direct-action work. If you live in the Birmingham area, and would like to find out more about volunteering as an ASN host, please email info@abortionsupport.org.uk.

Abortion Support Network

A front page article in the 'Irish Examiner' (Monday, 26 April 2010) discusses the work of the Abortion Support Network and mentions the Calthorpe Clinic in a very positive light. In an editorial, the Examiner stresses the importance of making a contribution to the abortion debate in Ireland. For further information, go to Irish Examiner and Abortion Support Network.

International Conference

The Ninth Conference of the International Federation of Professional Abortion and Contraception Associates (FIAPAC), will be held in Seville, Spain on 22-23 October 2010, on the topic of 'Achieving Excellence in Abortion Care'. For more information, go to the conference website, www.fiapac.org/pages/en/congresses/next-0.php.

New campaign makes contraception worth talking about

A new campaign will help young people to make more informed choices about contraception, look after their sexual health and avoid unwanted pregnancies. The campaign aims to promote more open and honest discussions about sex, relationships and contraception among 16 to 24 year olds and their parents. Research shows that a lack of knowledge, and misinformation, coupled with poor attitudes and communication is currently hindering their safer sexual behaviour. Click here to read more.

Calthorpe Clinic Contraception Questionnaire

Your feedback is important to us, so please click on the following link to take part in our short anonymous questionnaire: Opening Times Questionnaire.

The abortion statistics for England and Wales 2008 show a fall of 1.6% from 198,499 to 195,296.

The under-16 abortion rate was 4.2 and the under-18 rate was 18.9 per 1,000 women, both lower than in 2007. Medical abortions accounted for 38% of the total. For further information, go to: www.dh.gov.uk.

The Care Quality Commission will not be performing a statutory inspection of the Central Wolverhampton Clinic in 2009/2010 having received the Clinic's self-assessment documentation.

Having analysed the information in the self-assessment, the CQC decided that there were no serious issues that indicated they should visit the Clinic so an inspection would not be necessary. Click here to download a copy of the Commission's statement regarding the Clinic's self-assessment. They will be publishing a statement regarding the Clinic's risk assessment on the Commission's web site.

Birmingham PCT will now fund vasectomy treatment at the Calthorpe Clinic.

To check if you are eligible, you can either contact your local Health Authority, GP, family planning clinic or the Calthorpe Clinic.

Women from the Shropshire and Telford region can now access treatment on the NHS at the Calthorpe Clinic.

For further information and to see whether you are eligible, please call the Clinic for more details.

Medical Seminar - The Calthorpe Clinic Medical Seminar took place on 26 November.

Attended by around 100 healthcare professionals working in sexual health, the seminar dealt with a variety of related topics: including screening for STIs, consent, a report on the 'You're Welcome' initiative (making health services young people friendly), medical abortion and Birmingham's social marketing plan for long acting reversible contraception (LARCS). It was a marvellous opportunity to meet with fellow healthcare professionals and learn about recent developments in sexual health care. The next medical seminar will be held on 1st July 2009. Information on the programme will appear in due course. In the meantime, if you have any queries about the forthcoming seminar or would like to be informed of developments, then please do get in touch.

The Government recently announced that Personal Social and Health Education, including statutory sex and relationships education (SRE), will become a statutory subject in all schools in England and across all key stages.

For further information, go to www.fpa.org.uk and www.dcsf.gov.uk

Women in Northern Ireland don't have the same rights to abortion that women in the rest of the UK do.

If women from Northern Ireland want an abortion - they have to travel to England and pay privately to have one. The fpa is running a campaign for women's abortion rights in Northern Ireland. More details are on the fpa website www.fpa.org.uk

Wolverhampton PAS now offers a free walk-in chlamydia screening and testing service for the under 25s.

For further information go to Wolverhampton PAS page

Calthorpe Clinic, 4 Arthur Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UL