Pregnancy advisory services

Definition/Description

  • Medical and surgical terminations are commissioned locally depending on gestation. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTOP) including ‘Abortion at home’, is available where patients are referred sufficiently early.
  • Medical termination is available up to nine weeks with oral treatment and up to ten weeks with vaginal medication
  • TOP at York and Scarborough Hospital FT is only available for foetal abnormalities and referral for these is normally managed by collaboration with midwives, ultrasonographers and obstetricians. Patients are normally offered a STOP before 13-14 weeks. If they want MTOP they are referred to BPAS at that gestation. After 14 weeks YHFT offer medical termination only.

Red Flag Symptoms

None

Guidelines on Management

  • Advise patients on their options and help them establish the date of LMP
  • An examination IS NOT required for a referral

Referral Criteria/Information

A referral letter is not required and GPs are no longer require to sign part 1 of HSA1 Abortion Act 1967 form. All providers will complete HSA1 legal documentation by 2 independent doctors.

Patients can self-refer but help patients ensure they are not too late for a termination and to know:

  • LMP
  • Parity/method of delivery
  • Previous Contraception and plans for future – ensure offer LARC if appropriate
  • Smear history
  • Relevant past medical/surgical history
  • Current regular medication
  • BMI and Smoking Status

 

Locally Commissioned Services for Vale of York include:

  • BPAS (offer an MTOP up to 10 weeks gestation and counselling service in York, MTOP and STOP in Leeds and Doncaster)
    • BPAS York is at Unity Health, Kimberlow Hill Surgery, Kimberlow Lane, Kimberlow Rise, York, YO10 5LA
    • MTOP and STOP both up to 24 weeks gestation at BPAS Doncaster.
    • MTOP and STOP up to 14 weeks gestation at BPAS Leeds
  • Marie Stopes International, (York and Leeds-based services)
    • York Community Treatment Centre, Monkgate Health Centre 31 – 33, Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
    • Leeds Treatment Centre. 45 Barrack Road, Leeds, LS7 4AB Services at both include:
    • MTOP up to 9 weeks and 6 days, counselling, contraception including long-acting reversible contraception, post abortion consultations and STI screening.
    • STOP is delivered from Leeds or Manchester
    • Clinically complex cases that cannot be seen by MSI in either Leeds or Manchester, are referred to the nearest NHS setting which would most likely be LTHT (St James’). MSI would manage all clinically complex referrals including sourcing appointments and organising travel, if required. 

Additional Resources & Reference

Offer and encourage a follow up consultation on future contraception as prescription and follow up for contraception is likely to be needed from primary care.

NHS information for patients on contraception

Author: Responsible GP: Dr Shaun O’Connell / With support from Karen Hamilton (@ BPAS), Claire Oxby (@ Y&SHFT) & Kay Scott (@ MSI)
Date created: 18/06/2025, 10:39
Last modified: 09/07/2025, 14:52
Date of review: 2026/10/31