A crucial vote on the future of abortion is taking place today - this is why women say it's so important

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic a new abortion service was brought in to help women seeking pregnancy terminations throughout the turbulent times of lockdown.

Since then, telemedical abortions have helped hundreds of thousands of women across Britain. It allows them to access the treatment from the comfort, privacy and safety of their own homes.

Following it's introduction in April 2020, over 40,000 clients using MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes) have had safe early medical abortions using telemedicine. But now that all remaining covid restrictions have been lifted, the service is set to end this summer.

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Campaigners and experts say this could be devastating for women's health. Today (Wednesday 30 March) a crucial vote will be held in the House of Commons, where MPs will decide on an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill which would permanently allow telemedicine in England.

The service has already been adopted by the Welsh government permanently, and recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended telemedicine globally as part of its updated abortion guidelines. Campaigners who want the service to remain in England say there is "no sensible reason" why telemedicine abortions cannot be kept beyond August 2022.

When Claire, which is not her real name, found out she was pregnant she contacted an MSI UK call centre, informing workers her ex-partner and father of her son had been abusive. He had been jailed in 2018 but his family and friends who live close to her nearest clinic continued to threaten her and Claire told staff she didn't feel safe attending in person.

Thanks to telemedicine,