Calthorpe clinic
Encyclopedia
The Calthorpe Clinic is an abortion clinic
in Edgbaston
, Birmingham
, England
that first opened in 1969. It was the first clinic in the United Kingdom
opened exclusively for abortions. It was erected at Arthur Road in a building that was previously an old people's home
and started out with 18 beds. Since its opening, the clinic provided surgical and medical terminations for thousands of women each year. Nowadays it also provides sterilisation, and vasectomy
services.
The establishment is the single largest abortion clinic
in the UK with an annual caseload of around 10,000 clients. Approximately 85 % of the caseload is on contract to the NHS
. It is approved by the Secretary of State for Health
under the Abortion Act 1967
and regulated by the Healthcare Commission
and has to meet the national minimum standards set by the Care Standards Act 2000
. The clinic is named after the Calthorpe family who owned much of the area in Edgbaston during its growth in the 19th century.
Abortion clinic
An abortion clinic is a medical facility that primarily performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices.-Canada:*There were 197 abortion providers in Canada in 2001....
in Edgbaston
Edgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that first opened in 1969. It was the first clinic in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
opened exclusively for abortions. It was erected at Arthur Road in a building that was previously an old people's home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
and started out with 18 beds. Since its opening, the clinic provided surgical and medical terminations for thousands of women each year. Nowadays it also provides sterilisation, and vasectomy
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
services.
The establishment is the single largest abortion clinic
Abortion clinic
An abortion clinic is a medical facility that primarily performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices.-Canada:*There were 197 abortion providers in Canada in 2001....
in the UK with an annual caseload of around 10,000 clients. Approximately 85 % of the caseload is on contract to the NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
. It is approved by the Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...
under the Abortion Act 1967
Abortion Act 1967
The Abortion Act 1967 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom legalising abortions by registered practitioners, and regulating the free provision of such medical practices through the National Health Service ....
and regulated by the Healthcare Commission
Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission was a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health of the United Kingdom. It was set up to promote and drive improvement in the quality of health care and public health in England and Wales...
and has to meet the national minimum standards set by the Care Standards Act 2000
Care Standards Act 2000
Care Standards Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provides for the administration of a variety of care institutions, including children's homes, independent hospitals, nursing homes and residential care homes....
. The clinic is named after the Calthorpe family who owned much of the area in Edgbaston during its growth in the 19th century.