All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the UK (APPG SRH) is a group of MPs and Peers seeking to raise awareness in Parliament of the needs of women seeking abortion and the importance of improving the sexual and reproductive health of people in the UK.
Read recent news stories from the APPG
We bring together Parliamentarians, experts and campaigners to examine issues within sexual and reproductive healthcare in the UK, and to explore options to improve healthcare through policy and legislative change.
We are currently working to improve access to contraception for women in England, and to advocate for the full funding and commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland.
The Group is chaired by Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP and Baroness Barker.
The Group's Terms of Reference can be accessed here.
If you have a press query, please contact Catrin Hughes at appg@fsrh.org.
The Inquiry into Access to Contraception
The APPG SRH opened the Inquiry into Access to Contraception in 2019, in response to reports of women being unable to access contraception in a way that meets their needs. We reopened evidence submissions in May 2020 in order to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's access to contraception.
We found that:
- Women in England are facing increasing difficulty in accessing contraception which suits their needs
- This is due to a combination of funding cuts and a fragmented commissioning system which means that care is not structured around women's needs
- There is an urgent need to structure care around the needs of women, especially underserved groups such as ethnic minority groups, young women and women from poorer communities.
The Inquiry's report, Women's Lives, Women's Rights: Strengthening Access to Contraception Beyond the Covid-19 Pandemic can be downloaded below:
You can read a full account of the launch event here.
In September 2022, we published a progress update against the recommendations set out in the 2020 report. It found that 34 of the 38 recommendations have either had no progress or only some progress made against them and identified 5 key areas where progress must be made if women are able to access contraception in a way that meets their needs.
Access to Telemedicine for Early Medical Abortion
The APPG SRH has maintained a strong focus on the benefits of telemedicine for early medical abortion, following our meeting on this issue in July 2021.
Further to the ongoing work of the APPG and partners in the reproductive health space, in March 2022 Parliament voted in favour of making the telemedical pathway permanent in England. This means that women have continued access to home use of the first pill used for an early medical abortion (mifepristone), following a virtual consultation with a qualified nurse or midwife.
We are delighted that access to a pathway that is safe, effective, timely, more accessible than the alternative and preferred by most women has been protected.
You can read an opinion piece from our Chair Dame Diana on this issue here.
The APPG is supported by:
This is not an official website of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in this webpage are those of the group.
About the APPG
What is an All-Party Parliamentary Group?
An All-Party Parliamentary Group is a cross-party group of MPs and Peers who meet to discuss a particular issue of concern. APPGs examine policy issues relating to these issues, and they hold events and inquiries to understand them in more detail.
APPGs are ‘informal’ groups since they don’t play a formal role in developing legislation, but they are an effective way of bringing together parliamentarians and interested stakeholders.
What does the APPG on Sexual and Reproductive Health do?
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health (APPG SRH) exists to promote awareness in Parliament of issues surrounding sexual healthcare and reproductive healthcare, and the needs of women seeking abortion. We were founded as the Pro-Choice APPG.
We bring politicians, experts and campaigners together to examine issues within sexual and reproductive healthcare in the UK, and look at options to improve healthcare through policy and legislative change.
In recent years, we’ve held inquiries into access to contraception and the need for accountability and integration in sexual health, reproductive health and HIV care. We’ve hosted events in Parliament on FGM, relationships and sex education (RSE) and women’s reproductive health, to name but a few.
Members of the APPG
The following parliamentarians are members of the APPG:
- Dame Diana Johnson MP (Chair)
- Baroness Barker (Co-Chair)
- Sarah Champion MP
- Karin Smyth MP
- Sir Peter Bottomley MP
- Charlotte Nichols MP
- Caroline Nokes MP
- Emily Thornberry MP
- Rupa Huq MP
- Rosie Duffield MP
- Chris Bryant MP
- Alison McGovern MP
- Christine Jardine MP
- Caroline Dinenage MP
- Nia Griffith MP
- Dr Stephen Farry MP
- Feryal Clark MP
- Richard Holden MP
- Catherine West MP
- Viscount Craigavo
- Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbots
- Lord Harris
- Lord Dubs
- Baroness Sugg
- Baroness Jenkin of Kennington
- Baroness Young of Old Scone
- Baroness Massey of Darwin
- Baroness Howarth of Breckland (Crossbench)
- Baroness Jay of Paddington
- Lord Lipsey
- Baroness Flather (Crossbench)
Who funds the APPG?
The All-Party Parliamentary Group is funded by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Marie Stopes UK, Bayer and Organon.
About our funders
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The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) is a faculty of the Royal College of the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It was established on the 26th March 1993 as the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. FSRH’s specialist committees of SRH doctors and nurses work together to produce high quality training programmes, specialist conferences and events, clinical guidance and other SRH learning resources. |
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The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) works to improve health care for women everywhere, by setting standards for clinical practice, providing doctors with training and lifelong learning, and advocating for women’s health care worldwide. |
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MSI Reproductive Choices UK is an independent provider of quality, women-centred abortion care, providing services to around 62,000 women across England every year. Their medical and surgical abortion care includes counselling appointments, the option of post-abortion contraception, and a 24-hour aftercare support line. MSI Reproductive Choices UK is a country programme within the international NGO MSI Reproductive Choices, one of the world’s largest providers of, and advocates for, sexual and reproductive health and rights. |
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Bayer is a Life Science company with a more than 150-year history and core competencies in the areas of health care and agriculture. Bayer is dedicated to promoting sexual health worldwide, and has generously supported many global health and education initiatives with partners such as Women Deliver and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). |
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Organon is a global healthcare company formed through a spin-off from Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, focused on improving the health of women throughout their lives. |
APPG SRH events
What recent events has the APPG held?
Telemedicine: A new chapter for abortion care
On 19th July 2021 the APPG held an event on the impact of – and opportunities emerging from – telemedicine in abortion care. It was held in the context of ongoing Government consultations in England, Wales and Scotland.
A summary of the event can be read here.
Investing in women's lives: A lifecourse approach to SRH
On 26th October 2021 the APPG held an event focused on the need for a lifecourse approach to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Discussions highlighted the need to ensure the SRH and Women’s Health Strategies reflect the adoption of a lifecourse approach and work in synergy with each other.
A summary of the event can be read here.
Addressing the backlog in LARC and future-proofing access
On 8th February 2022 the APPG held an event looking at how to overcome barriers to Long-acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) provision and future-proof access for girls and women.
The meeting was held in the context of the development of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, as a key opportunity to address long-standing issues in the commissioning and delivery of SRH and support increased access to all forms of contraception.
A summary of the event can be read here.
A Turning Point for Women’s Reproductive Healthcare: APPG SRH AGM and parliamentary roundtable
On 20th July 2022 the APPG held a joint roundtable discussion with the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) in Parliament. The event explored opportunities to drive meaningful, holistic improvement in sexual and reproductive healthcare.
During the meeting, the APPG also held its AGM and re-elected the following as Officers:
- Chair – Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP
- Co-Chair – Baroness Barker
- Vice-Chairs – Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Emily Thornberry MP
A summary of the AGM and meeting can be read here.
The Group's Income and Expenditure Statement can be found here.
Equipping the NHS to deliver for Women’s Reproductive Health
On 23 November 2022, the APPG held a meeting to discuss the steps that need to be taken to ensure the NHS is equipped to deliver for women’s reproductive health.
The meeting was chaired by the APPG’s Chair Dame Diana Johnson MP DBE and held in the context of the development of the NHS Workforce Plan, as announced by the Government.
A summary of the meeting can be read here.
Initial findings to guide new directions in UK abortion care
On 7 March 2023, the APPG brought together around 50 policymakers, clinicians, researchers, abortion care providers and other stakeholders in Parliament – including representatives from Health Education England, the Royal College of GPs and the Faculty of Public Health – to discuss the implications of the SACHA (Shaping Abortion for Change) Study.
A summary of the meeting can be read here.
'The Women’s Health Strategy: One year on' APPG SRH AGM and parliamentary event
On 4 July 2023, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health (APPG SRH) held its AGM and a discussion - chaired by the APPG’s Co-Chair Baroness Liz Barker - focused on progress made against the Government’s Women’s Health Strategy, one year on from its publication.
As part of the AGM business, Parliamentarians re-elected the following as Officers of the APPG:
- Chair – Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP
- Co-Chair – Baroness Barker
- Vice-Chairs – Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Emily Thornberry MP
Parliamentarians also approved the Group’s income and expenditure statement.
A full list of APPG events can be accessed here.
Contact
How can I contact the APPG and stay up to date with the latest news and updates?
For media enquiries or general questions about the APPG SRH, please contact Catrin Hughes at appg@fsrh.org.