Currently, women in Scotland who are more than 20 weeks are forced to travel to England to access abortion care, except in exceptional circumstances such as foetal anomaly or serious risk to the mother’s life.

The lack of care is forcing some women to travel hundreds of miles for treatment.

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Data published by the UK Government shows that 175 women resident in Scotland had abortions in England and Wales in 2023, up from 168 in 2022. The total includes 10 girls under the age of 18.

The recent figures form part of annual statistics covering women who are not normally resident in England and Wales.

In total, 770 abortions were provided to non-residents in 2023, accounting for 0.3 per cent of all abortions carried out that year.

Women from the Republic of Ireland made up the largest group of non-residents, accounting for 31 per cent of cases. This was followed by Scotland (23 per cent) and Northern Ireland (19 per cent).

Scotland also ranked ahead of Northern Ireland in 2022, when 168 Scottish residents travelled for care compared with a lower figure from Northern Ireland, meaning Scotland has now overtaken it for two consecutive years in the available data.

While some of the Scottish cases may involve women temporarily living in England for work or university, providers say a significant proportion are travelling because services are not available locally.

Previous figures from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) show that in 2023 it treated 88 women who lived in Scotland but could not access abortion care locally due to a lack of provision.

BPAS has previously said the continued increase in cross-border travel underlined the need for expanded access to mid-trimester abortion services in Scotland, warning that women were still being failed by gaps in NHS provision.

A Scottish Government expert group is currently working on delivering solutions to improve access to abortion care, however, campaigners have previously claimed such work has faced delays and missed targets.

The Scottish Government has previously acknowledged difficulties in providing later-gestation abortions and has said work is ongoing to improve access.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are working urgently with NHS Boards, National Services Scotland, and other key stakeholders to ensure that women can access later stage abortion care in Scotland.

“A Task and Finish Group was established to develop a high‑level target operating model for the service, which was completed within six months. We are now working at pace, alongside NSS, to consider the detailed arrangements needed to implement the service as soon as possible.

“The Scottish Government continues to fund individual NHS Boards to support clinicians who wish to undertake training in later stage abortion and I am pleased that several additional clinicians have now completed this training.

“It is right that women should be able to access abortion services within Scotland in a timely, safe and equitable manner. We will build upon progress made to improve access to abortion services, and reduce waiting times, with the actions set out in the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan.”