LABOUR shadow health secretary Diane Abbott has called on the government to urgently step in to act over a family planning clinic’s immediate suspension of abortions for vulnerable women.

Marie Stopes suspended surgical abortions for girls under 18 and vulnerable women at the weekend after safety concerns were raised by the Care Quality Commission. A number of other services offered by Marie Stopes International have also been halted to make sure patients are protected from potential harm when undergoing pregnancy terminations.

These include the suspension of terminations under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation, and the suspension of all surgical terminations at the provider’s Norwich centre.

Ms Abbott warned: “The suspension of these services will affect up to 250 women a week.

She said: “I am very concerned as to how the transfer of services will be managed. The government must urgently provide assurances that timely treatment will be delivered by appropriate service providers.”