Supporting women through abortion

“Before I started this placement I had no idea about MSI Reproductive Choices and sexual health clinics, I knew nothing about abortion. Now I feel so much more knowledgeable,” says Ozlem Top who, with fellow King's College London course mate Trishnu Thakali, is in the second group of pre-registration nursing students to complete placements at the MSI Reproductive Choices clinic in West London.

“It was the same for me – it was a completely new experience with different opportunities,” says Trishnu.

Back in September 2019, NICE published updated guidance on abortion care, recommending that anyone who may care for someone who requests an abortion should have the chance to gain experience of abortion services during their training. 

A common procedure

“We wanted to offer students a chance to experience an area of health care that is not included as a core part of any major pre-registration courses for nursing or midwifery,” says Angela Jones, Clinical Educator at MSI Reproductive Choices. “However, it is a very common procedure – one in three UK women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Although some students may gain a little experience on a gynae placement, a placement with us offers the chance to understand abortion as health care, and to explore the emphasis we give to emotional support and to safeguarding every client we care for.”

MSI Reproductive Choices is a charity that provides NHS-funded and self-funded abortion care, alongside counselling, contraception and vasectomies. Nursing students on placement have the chance to learn about all of these areas, including taking part in face-to-face safeguarding training and observing counselling calls. 

Angela says: “They see the full scope of our work: pre-assessments, consents for surgical procedures, working in the treatment room and in the post-op recovery area, and caring for women undergoing early medical abortion. They really get the feeling of supporting these women through often quite a long journey.”

Having the chance to care for women through the different stages of treatment was important for Trishnu and Ozlem. “Being able to follow a client’s journey from start to finish is really good,” says Trishnu. “The staff create this safe environment for them to open up or see if there are any safeguarding issues, which is amazing.”

Ozlem says: “You have the opportunity to observe pretty much everything in the clinic. I’ve had most of my previous placements in hospital and this is completely different.”

Fully supported

Both students also felt supported by staff at the clinic. “The practice supervisors and practice assessors help you and give you opportunities in different fields within the clinic. The fact the mentors ask what you want to get out of the placement is great,” says Trishnu.

“It's very much tailored to what the student needs to achieve,” says Angela. “The vast majority of the care we give here is nurse-led, and to have that autonomy was something the students loved –  they hadn't experienced that so much in more traditional placement settings.”

Ozlem and Trishnu say they’ve been inspired by their placement and are both keen to work in this area of health care. “Being able to come here allowed me to develop my knowledge about abortion and the medical aspects of contraception,” Trishnu says. “The team members are all working together to make this clinic the best place for those who want to have an abortion in the right way.”

Ozlem agrees: “Especially as a Muslim, it’s rare to see Muslim females and Muslim males come to clinics for an abortion. Now that I've had this opportunity, I can also spread the word, letting them know that you can make your own choice.”

Ozlem and Trishnu undertook their placement prior to the start of the pandemic, however MSI reproductive choices has continued to support students throughout, working closely with King’s College London and Health Education England to provide placements over the summer. MSI Reproductive Choices is now further developing the programme and working with a range of universities to provide practice placements in centres across the country.