A HEALTH board in Scotland has said it would not want automatic provision of buffer zones around all abortion facilities due to fears it would “just draw attention to them”.
In response to a letter from Alice Murray from Back Off Scotland - a campaign group calling for the implementation of protest buffer zones around abortion clinics in Scotland - NHS Grampian said that while it supports the “principle of safe zones” it does not want them to be enacted automatically.
The board secretary of NHS Grampian, Sarah Duncan, said: “We are mindful of the need not to draw attention to facilities where protesters might not be gathering at the moment so NHS Grampian would not want automatic provision of a buffer zone around all facilities as this would just draw attention to them.
😳 Received this from NHS Grampian.
— Back Off Scotland (@backoffscotland) August 19, 2022
Their position on bzs is now essentially: we don’t want people to know where we are providing abortions in because it might encourage protestors to start targeting the sites.
This is a disgraceful abdication of duty to protect patients/staff. pic.twitter.com/P7TNEN7T80
"We can see the desirability of having a process to apply for a zone to be implemented if required.”
The First Minister is set to convene a second summit to discuss buffer zones on August 29. At the first summit in June Nicola Sturgeon called for Edinburgh and Glasgow to consider becoming “test councils” to restrict protests and vigils around sexual health clinics and hospitals.
However, Aberdeen has also been subject to anti-abortion protests outside its maternity hospital.
Lucy Grieve, co-founder of Back Off Scotland, said that NHS Grampian’s response was “an absolute disgrace”.
She told The Scotsman: “Abortion is a legal healthcare procedure, and protests taking place at the gates of healthcare facilities create real barriers to accessing care.
"We’ve heard from hundreds of women and staff across Scotland – including Aberdeen – who have been affected having had to run the gauntlet of these anti-choice groups at clinics and hospitals. NHS Grampian’s position on safe access buffer zones is an absolute disgrace.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon to convene second abortion summit as protests continue
“Not only have they stated that harassment doesn’t occur in any of their locations, and ignored repeated requests to meet with patients who have experience of this, their position is now essentially: we don’t want people to know where we are providing abortions in NHS Grampian because it might encourage protestors to start targeting the sites.
“This is clearly a reason in itself to legislate for buffer zones around all facilities that provide the services so that patients and staff aren’t targeted at any point in the future.”
Responding to the backlash a spokesperson for NHS Grampian said: “We are fully in support of the principle of safe access zones.
“While we recognise the right to peaceful protest, there is also the right of our service users to receive care without fear or intimidation.
"We have suggested safe access zones not be automatically implemented, as this could advertise where abortion services are provided and draw protestors to those sites.
"We have had regular correspondence with Back Off Scotland and are open to continuing that dialogue with them."
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay’s consultation on her private members bill to introduce 150-metre buffer zones across the whole of Scotland closed at the start of the week.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel