New Health Secretary Therese Coffey today insisted her anti-abortion views were “nothing to see here” after she was criticised by a charity.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, an abortion provider which campaigns for abortion rights, said the appointment of Liz Truss’s close pal in the Cabinet reshuffle was “deeply concerning”.
Chief executive Clare Murphy told the BBC Dr Coffey had “voted against the advice of leading medical bodies” to “revoke access to at-home abortion care, and recriminalise women who end their own pregnancies without the approval of two doctors”.
She added: "To have a health secretary who would place their personal beliefs above expert clinical guidance is deeply concerning."
Today Dr Coffey told Sky News: “I’m conscious I have voted against abortion laws.
“What I will say is I’m a complete democrat and that is done. It’s not that I’m seeking to undo any aspects of abortion laws.”
She said “I haven’t even considered” issues beyond ambulances, backlogs, care, doctors and dentists, adding: “There’s nothing more, as it were, to say here or to see here.”
A Catholic, Dr Coffey voted against extending abortion rights in Northern Ireland, as well as against gay marriage.
In 2010 she introduced a motion in Parliament which urged medical professionals to "assess for mental disorder" in women seeking an abortion, and give counselling for those who needed it.
In 2012 she suggested she supports halving the abortion time limit to 12 weeks, saying the “majority of European countries” have that limit.
In March this year she voted against extending the availability of at-home abortion pills after Covid. Today she insisted “many other people who are exceptionally pro-abortion did not want that to happen”.
But she said “access to abortion is set out - that’s already available right across the UK”, adding: “That access will continue.”
Dr Coffey - who is due to make her first major announcement on the NHS next week - raised fresh questions over how her new boss will fund the Health Service.
She said “exactly the same” amount will be spent on health and care put together - despite Liz Truss vowing to divert £30bn over three years from the NHS into social care.
Ms Truss said £12bn-a-year from a Health and Care Levy should not only be kept, but also spent on social care - despite axing the National Insurance rise that funded it.
Hospital bosses fear that could leave a multi-billion-pound black hole in NHS coffers.
Today Dr Coffey said the £12bn-a-year would be funded “out of general taxation” - despite Liz Truss slashing taxes.
“Instead of having in effect a ring-fenced levy, we will be funding that out of general taxation, so the investment going into health and social care will stay exactly the same,” she said.
Dr Coffey admitted people have “suffered” due to ambulance delays and did not rule out using more private sector health providers to clear the NHS backlog.
“I want to use every capacity that we can in this country because what happens is the outcome for patients,” she told LBC.
Dr Coffey has been criticised on social media for becoming Health Secretary after being pictured chomping on a cigar. She told the BBC: "I don't tend to look at social media. You know frankly, I've had all sorts of abuse hurled at me for many years. It doesn't worry me.”
She also revealed she has an 8am alarm set to a Dr Dre song - after it went off mid-interview.