In England, People from Northern Ireland Can Now Access NHS-Funded Abortions

In a surprising concession from the Conservative–Democratic Unionist Party coalition in Parliament, the National Health Service in England will cover the cost of abortion services for people traveling from Northern Ireland. There are no plans at this time to reimburse travel expenses. Because a trip to England is still a necessity, those with extenuating circumstances or without sufficient finan­cial resources will see little practical benefit from this change in English policy. Nevertheless, an abortion can cost as much as £900, and covering these services marks a small but significant step for access to appropriate healthcare for the people of Northern Ireland.