The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) has confirmed that it is working to restore the Early Medical Abortion (EMA) service in the coming months.

A spokesperson from the Western Trust said: “The Trust is currently working to recommence the early medical abortion clinic within the next number of months, in accordance with the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020.

“In the interim, from April 1, this service has been available to anyone in the Western Trust area via our neighbouring HSC Trusts.”

The EMA provision in the Western Trust collapsed on April 23, 2021, and the Western Trust has been “working to restore” the service for a number of months.

In the time since the EMA service's collapse last year, those who have been unable to access the EMA service locally have travelled to other parts of the UK or accessed abortion pills online.

Until the service is restored in the Western Trust area, other Health Trusts across Northern Ireland will provide an EMA service.

The news has been welcomed by activists. Emma Campbell, co-convener, Alliance for Choice, said: “In the absence of localised abortion services, those in the Western Trust [area] seeking treatment have been forced to travel or access pills from online providers, none of which should be necessary two years and seven months after the decriminalisation of abortion."

She continued: “We commend the dedicated healthcare professionals from across all five Health Trusts who have sought to provide abortion healthcare services in the absence of commissioning from the Health Minister and Department of Health, including those staff from the Northern and Southern Trust who have gone [above and] beyond, despite a lack of support or guidance from the Department of Health."

It is understood that an EMA service of up to 10 weeks' pregnancy will be provided by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, and the Southern Health and Social Care Health Trust, until EMA services are arranged in the Western Trust area.