The department has published an update to the procedures for approval of independent sector providers of treatment for termination of pregnancy.
These procedures set out the required standard operating principles that approved organisations need to comply with in order to obtain Secretary of State approval under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967.
The procedures have been updated to reflect the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) regulatory framework, including other relevant professional guidance and should be used by all independent sector providers of abortion services.
Under these new arrangements, all providers of regulated activities must meet the relevant outcomes set out in the CQC’s guidance on essential standards of quality and safety.
The previous version of the procedures was last consulted on and published in 1999. It did not reflect the changes to the CQC’s regulatory framework introduced in October 2010.
