Saturday, December 17, 2016

Women's Views on News

Women's Views on News

Petition: save contraception from cuts

Posted: 16 Dec 2016 04:05 PM PST

fpa, family planning association, petition, no cuts to contraceptive servicesProtect women’s access to all contraception options.

The UK government has cut public health budgets by a whopping £800m over six years.

One shocking result of this is that some women no longer have access to the full array of contraception options.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (Larc) such as coils and implants are popular choices for many women.

However, research has found that community clinics delivering contraceptive care are being closed.

At the same time, one in three councils has cut, or is considering cutting, the number of GP practices able to provide Larc methods.

On average, women will spend around three decades planning or preventing pregnancy.

Contraception is a key part of women’s healthcare and a wide range of methods should be available to all women, regardless of budget cuts.

Removing women’s access to contraception options costs the health care system money as a result of increased unplanned pregnancies.

It is estimated that every pound spent on contraception saves the health care system £11 in future health care costs.

These government cuts are therefore not only removing women’s hard-won right to choose their contraception method, they are also economically irresponsible.

Women must have access to all contraception options available so they can find one that works for them.

Please sign this petition now, and support The Family Planning Association (FPA) demanding that the Department of Health take responsibility for ensuring that contraception services are not cut, and to demand the Treasury provides the necessary funds to protect this essential part of women’s healthcare.

And please raise this issue with your MP.

Forward them the petition, for example.

Thanks.