BLOG: Envisioning the future of abortion care involvement practices: reflections from a collaborative workshop

Nicola Boydell, Lecturer at the Usher Institute, reflects on a collaborative workshop envisioning the future of abortion care, focusing on community involvement and innovative engagement practices in research and policy.

Nicola Boydell | Lecturer in Social Science and Public Health

On 11 July, I hosted a workshop titled Engagement and Involvement Practices in Abortion Care: Collectively Envisioning Futures. This half-day event brought together people from across the abortion and wider sexual and reproductive health ‘ecosystem’ who are committed to improving abortion and contraceptive care and embedding community and patient involvement. A key aim of the day was to explore how engagement practices can shape research, influence policy, and enhance clinical practice.

The event, facilitated by AndThen ‒ a Glasgow-based design agency specialising in academic, third sector, and public sector development ‒ brought together a diverse group of over 25 participants working across abortion care and engagement practice, including people with abortion experience, activists and abortion advocacy groups, NHS (Lothian and Borders) staff, BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service), The Young Women's Movement, Back Off Scotland, and the Scottish Government. Also in attendance were representatives from higher education institutions such as the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lancaster, UCL (University College London), LSHTM (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), and The Open University.

Throughout the workshop, we engaged in interactive activities designed to deepen connections and explore new possibilities for involvement and engagement in abortion care research, practice, and policy. An open mic session highlighted inspirational examples of engagement that participants had seen, led, or taken part in, broadening our understanding of these practices. Contributions came from amongst others, The Open University, The Young Women’s Movement, BPAS, as well as University of Edinburgh colleagues Chase Ledin and Nel Coleman, Library Citizen Science Engagement Officer.

During the day, we mapped key groups and stakeholders in the current abortion ecosystem, envisioned future scenarios, and collaboratively developed ideas for enhancing involvement and engagement practices. Participants shared experiences and reflections from their work, helping to create a constructive environment for building relationships and expanding networks. By the end of the day, we collectively generated a vision for more inclusive and effective engagement in abortion care over the longer term.

The event was a fantastic opportunity to bring together a broad range of people and perspectives. Since the workshop, I have worked with AndThen to analyse the materials generated, considering key questions such as ‘What’s unique about engagement in abortion care?’ and ‘What systemic changes would support and embed community and patient involvement in the abortion ecosystem?’

Personally, the workshop marked the conclusion of my Fellowship with The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, during which I received support from colleagues across Usher and the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society. My work highlights the importance of considering the specificities of abortion-related patient and public involvement practices, including the social, legal, and clinical context, and the impact of systemic stigma.

The outputs from the workshop will help develop best practices for engaging stakeholders in abortion care research and service improvement, underpin future initiatives, and contribute to more inclusive and effective practices in the sector. Insights from the workshop are also informing work on the Scottish Government-funded SCOPE Project: Improving access to post-abortion contraception through co-design of service models in Scotland, led by myself and Professor Jeni Harden, alongside Research Fellow Marie Larsson. This project aims to improve access to post-abortion contraception in Scotland.

Along with clinical colleagues from the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM), we have plans for further collaborative work to enhance patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) practices in abortion and contraception across NHS Lothian - watch this space!

If anyone would like more information about the workshop, the SCOPE Project, or any future initiatives, I would love to hear from you!