Green MSP calls for review of buffer zone size in Glasgow
Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay is calling for the government to review the size of the safe access zone, or ‘buffer zone’ around the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow with a view to extending it.
This follows complaints from patients that dozens of anti-choice protestors have been gathering on the edge of the buffer zone, and on one of the main routes to the hospital.
Ms Mackay introduced the bill that secured 200 metre wide safe access zones, or buffer zones, around clinical settings that offer abortion services to prevent intimidation from anti-choice protests across Scotland. The Act includes a provision to extend the zones if it is considered proportionate to do so.
Ms Mackay has written to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, asking for Ministers to consider extending the zone in order to offer greater dignity, protection and privacy for people attending the QEUH for abortion and maternity services.
Ms Mackay said:
“Safe access zones were introduced to protect patients and staff at our hospitals, and, for the most part, that is what they are doing. But at QEUH we have seen protests continuing on one of the main entry routes to the hospital.
“The QEUH in Glasgow has quite unique challenges due to its location compared to other hospitals. From the correspondence that I and others have received, there are concerns about the patients and staff having no choice but to pass the protests.
“My Act includes powers to extend buffer zones where necessary to offer better protections to patients and staff, and that is what I am asking our Government to look into around the QEUH.
“Abortion services are vital healthcare. Nobody should have to pass graphic placards and intimidating groups on their way to hospital for any type of medical appointment.
“I urge the dozens of protestors who have gathered over recent weeks to read the testimony of the many women who have felt intimidated by their presence and reconsider their actions going forward.
“To anyone who has been impacted by recent anti-choice protests, please get in touch with myself or the Scottish Government, so that we can consider how to make these spaces even safer moving forward.”
