Fresh calls for abortion clinic buffer zones after protest outside Glasgow's QEUH

There are fresh calls for buffer zones to be introduced around abortion facilities in Scotland, after a large protest outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Sunday.

Around 100 activists lined the street outside the maternity unit, carrying placards.

Lucy Grieve, co-founder and director of Back Off Scotland, told Clyde 1: "They were carrying a range of posters, anti-abortion placards, and signs that said 'women regret abortion'.

"This was right outside the maternity services area, so of course any staff or patient who needed to get by would be faced with this, as it's a street you have to go on.

"This isn't a freedom of speech issue, it isn't an attempt to quell the right to protest. We support both of those things, but we think that doing so immediately outside a healthcare facility creates a barrier to accessing essential reproductive healthcare, and it is harassment."

Back Off Scotland is calling for 150m buffer zones to be implemented around maternity units across Scotland.

Lucy added: "We receive a lot of messages from women who say it is particularly distressing to have to go past this.

"It's like an extra trauma on top of what they're already having to experience, when they're at their most vulnerable."

"We also hear stories from doctors who have to perform the abortions, who say they feel harassed and it impacts how they can do their jobs, so it really is affecting women and society across the spectrum".

'Stalemate'

The women's health minister, Maree Todd, has previously said the Scottish Government doesn't think a nationwide ban on protests would be the right course of action.

Ms Todd suggested local councils should use bye-laws to implement protest-free zones.

But Lucy says, so far, there hasn't been any real progress on the issue: "From our discussions from Glasgow City Council, we know that they are very strong supporters of this being led by government action, so we're in a sort of stalemate".

READ MORE: QC rules councils have no power to enforce abortion buffer zones

Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay is working on a member's bill to introduce buffer zones in Scotland.

Responding to the scenes outside the QEUH, she said: "100 people is intimidating, even two people with signs can be intimidating, and in 2022 we really shouldn't have to be fighting for people to be able to access healthcare without intimidation,

"That image online would put most of us off attending a hospital appointment, or at least create that fear of what would be there the next day, if that's what happened on a Sunday night when outpatient appointments weren't taking place.

"What we are hoping for is that there is a national minimum of a buffer zone, so that people know around hospitals, they will be able to access healthcare free from intimidation, and that's also for staff going into their work."

Ms Mackay says, additionally, councils should have the option to extend a buffer zone as far as is needed: "In some instances, 150m would just displace people to the next bus stop, which for people going to a hospital via public transport, is just as much of a barrier for people to walk past.

"As always, 150m would not suit every hospital campus in every part of Scotland."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government believes all women in Scotland should be able to access timely abortion care without judgement, within the limits of the law, should they require it.

“We have convened a working group with partners such as COSLA, Police Scotland and affected Councils and Health Boards to seek to find an appropriate way forward as soon as possible in relation to protests or vigils outside abortion clinics.

“The working group is continuing to explore ways to ensure that women can access abortion services without feeling harassed or intimidated.

“We are looking forward to MSP Gillian Mackay bringing forward her member’s bill on buffer zones.”

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