Abortion laws in the UK allow terminations across all four nations, but the rules are not uniform. In England, Scotland, and Wales, the Abortion Act 1967 permits abortion up to 24 weeks on general health grounds, and later in pregnancy in a narrow set of serious circumstances. In Northern Ireland, a separate 2020 framework allows abortion on request up to 12 weeks. Nearly all abortions across the UK are funded by the NHS, and you can self-refer without going through your GP.
Time Limits and Grounds in England, Scotland, and Wales
The Abortion Act 1967, as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, sets out four grounds under which a pregnancy can lawfully be ended. Two registered medical practitioners must certify in good faith that at least one ground is met.1Legislation.gov.uk. Abortion Act 1967 – Section 1
- Section 1(1)(a): the pregnancy has not exceeded 24 weeks and continuing it would pose a greater risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (or her existing children) than ending it. This is the ground used in the vast majority of terminations.
- Section 1(1)(b): the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the woman’s physical or mental health. No time limit.
- Section 1(1)(c): continuing the pregnancy would pose a greater risk to the woman’s life than ending it. No time limit.
- Section 1(1)(d): there is a substantial risk the child would be born with serious physical or mental disabilities. No time limit.
The 24-week cut-off applies only to the first ground. Beyond 24 weeks, a lawful termination requires one of the three remaining grounds, each involving a serious threat to the woman’s health or life, or severe fetal abnormality.2Legislation.gov.uk. Abortion Act 1967
How the Rules Differ in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland was governed by a separate, much more restrictive regime until 2019. The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 required the UK Government to reform the law if the Northern Ireland Executive was not restored by 21 October 2019. When that deadline passed, the old criminal prohibitions under sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 ceased to apply in Northern Ireland.3GOV.UK. Changes to the Law in Northern Ireland: Updated Information
The Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020, in force from 31 March 2020, replaced them with a very different structure:4Legislation.gov.uk. The Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020
- Up to 12 weeks: abortion is available on request, with no need to establish a specific health ground.
- Between 12 and 24 weeks: lawful where continuing the pregnancy would pose a risk to the woman’s physical or mental health.
- After 24 weeks: limited to cases of immediate necessity to save the woman’s life or prevent grave permanent injury, or where a fatal or severe fetal abnormality has been diagnosed. No upper time limit in those circumstances.
Access on the ground has been contested. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has the power to direct the Department of Health to commission services, and has used it after periods when services were not fully operational despite the legal framework being in place.
Taking Abortion Pills at Home
Since August 2022, England and Wales have permanently allowed early medical abortion by telemedicine. After a remote consultation with a registered clinician, you can be sent both pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) by post and take them at home. This route is available only up to 9 weeks and 6 days’ gestation.5GOV.UK. At Home Early Medical Abortions Made Permanent in England and Wales
Scotland has adopted similar permanent arrangements. In every case a clinician must still verify that the statutory grounds are met before prescribing, whether the consultation is remote or in person.6UK Parliament House of Commons Library. Early Medical Abortion at Home During and After the Pandemic
Cost and NHS Funding
Around 98% of abortions in England, Scotland, and Wales are funded by the NHS, whether carried out in an NHS hospital or at an independent provider under NHS contract. You do not need a GP referral; self-referral is available across all three nations.
If you choose to pay privately, or if you are not eligible for NHS-funded care, the cost depends on gestation and procedure. Early medical abortion is the cheapest option; surgical procedures at later gestations cost considerably more. Prices at major private providers run from roughly £600 for an early medical abortion to over £3,000 for surgical procedures beyond 20 weeks, with the exact figure confirmed at booking.
People in the UK who lack NHS eligibility because of their immigration status can find it harder to access funded care, particularly after 10 weeks. The Abortion Support Network is one organisation that helps with funding in those situations.
Consent Rules for Young People and Adults Who Lack Capacity
Abortion, like any medical procedure, requires the patient’s informed consent. Two situations have specific rules.
Under 16s
A person under 16 can consent to an abortion without parental knowledge or approval if they are assessed as Gillick competent — that is, the clinician judges they have the intelligence and understanding to fully appreciate the nature of the procedure, its risks, and the alternatives.7NHS. Consent to Treatment – Children and Young People The assessment is decision-specific: a young person may be competent for one treatment but not another.8Care Quality Commission. GP Mythbuster 8: Gillick Competency and Fraser Guidelines
Adults Who Cannot Consent
If an adult cannot understand, retain, or weigh the information needed to make the decision, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies.9Legislation.gov.uk. Mental Capacity Act 2005 Any decision on their behalf must be in their best interests, and normally involves family members or a legally appointed representative. In complex or contested cases the matter may need a court order before the procedure can go ahead.
Safe Access Zones Around Clinics
The Public Order Act 2023 introduced buffer zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales, which came into force on 31 October 2024. Within 150 metres of any clinic or hospital providing abortion services, it is a criminal offence to do anything that could influence someone’s decision to access or provide services, obstruct access, or cause harassment or distress to patients or staff. Conviction can result in an unlimited fine.
The zones apply automatically wherever abortions are provided. Individual clinics do not have to apply for the protection.
When Abortion Is Still a Crime
One point worth being clear about: the criminal provisions of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 have not been fully repealed in England, Scotland, and Wales. They still apply to any termination outside the regulated pathways. Obtaining or using abortion medication without going through a registered provider can lead to criminal investigation, and the maximum penalty under the 1861 Act remains life imprisonment. Telemedicine and at-home pills are lawful because a registered practitioner has certified the statutory grounds and prescribed through an approved service — take the same medication outside that framework and the legal position is very different.