The number of abortions carried out in England and Wales increased by 17% compared with the same period the year before, with a charity citing the cost of living crisis as a factor for the steep rise.

Across England and Wales, 123,219 abortions were carried out between January and June 2022 – up from 105,488 over the same period in 2021.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) says it cannot see the dramatic rise slowing down given increased financial pressures and rising interest rates.

The newly published figures led BPAS chief executive Clare Murphy to call on the government to “ensure that women are able to make the decisions that are right for themselves and for their families”.

“These figures indicate that in 2022, the cost of living crisis was already having an impact on women’s pregnancy choices,” she said.

Financial pressures will be further compounded for families after the Bank of England announced another hike to interest rates on Thursday, making borrowing more expensive.

“We are potentially looking at very significant changes in childbearing and family size in the years to come, particularly as women choose to start their families later, limit their family size or simply decide they do not wish, or cannot afford, to have children,” Ms Murphy said.

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“We cannot see this changing as we go forward, given the impact of interest rate hikes and the huge increase in cost of living.”

This change in approach to family would require women to have further access to emergency contraception, Ms Murphy said.

“It makes absolutely no sense to continue to compel women to undergo a clinically unnecessary consultation which acts as nothing but a barrier to her getting what she needs as quickly as possible,” she added.

“It [emergency contraception] needs to be available on the shelf of pharmacies and supermarkets.”

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