Quality standard
This quality standard covers care for women of any age (including girls and young women under 18) who request an abortion. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has produced guidance for gynaecological services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is relevant to statements 1, 3 and 4 in this quality standard and may help to support using it.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Department of Health and Social Care has issued temporary approval of home use for both stages of early medical abortion. This is relevant to statement 4 in this quality standard.
How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them
Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.
Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them.