Termination Services
Saint Mary's Hospital
Termination Services at Saint Mary's Hospital
The Whitworth Clinic at Saint Mary’s Hospital providesNHS abortion care within the Gynaecology service. The service is confidential, non-judgemental and delivered by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, with a strong emphasis on dignity, respect and patient-centred care.
A placement in Termination Services offers doctors structured exposure to the organisation of abortion care in a UK tertiary women’s hospital setting. The service covers initial assessment for people considering termination of pregnancy, pre- and post-abortion counselling, treatment options, follow-up care, contraception provision, STI screening and support for problems in pregnancy. They also provide contraceptive services, sexual health services including advice and screening and specialist services for patients with complex medical problems.
The service offers medical and surgical treatment options, including early medical abortion, late medical abortion, outpatient surgical abortion and inpatient surgical abortion. Face-to-face care is based in the Gynaecology Out-patient Department at Saint Mary’s Hospital, with surgical abortion routinely taking place at MFT’s North Manchester and Wythenshawe hospital sites. This cross-site configuration provides a useful learning context for pathway design, referral coordination, governance, patient flow and continuity of care.
The clinical team includes consultants, resident doctors completing specialist training, specialist nurses, a clinic coordinator and counsellors. For visiting doctors, they can gain supervised observation, reflective learning, MDT working, communication, consent, confidentiality, safeguarding awareness and understanding of how sensitive reproductive healthcare is delivered safely and compassionately in the NHS.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
Recent publications, research and academic indicators:
Pregnancy Outcomes After Second Trimester Pregnancy Loss and Termination for Medical Reasons Before 24 Weeks: A Historical Cohort Study [PASTeL-2]
Rare and complex cases
• Complex medical history or comorbidity requiring specialist review before treatment decisions.
• Later gestation pathways requiring additional coordination and clear counselling.
• Patients requiring integrated contraception, sexual-health screening or post-abortion follow-up.
• Cross-site care involving Saint Mary’s outpatient assessment and surgical provision at North Manchester or Wythenshawe hospitals.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Termination Services
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Describe the role of the Whitworth Clinic as an NHS abortion care service within Saint Mary’s Hospital.
- Observe how patients are supported through initial assessment, counselling, treatment choices and follow-up.
- Gain awareness of the medical, surgical, contraception and sexual health elements of termination services.
- Understand how confidentiality, dignity, respect and non-judgemental care are embedded in service delivery.
- Recognise how inpatient gynaecology services support women undergoing termination of pregnancy for social or medical reasons.
- Reflect on the importance of communication, counselling and multidisciplinary support in sensitive reproductive healthcare
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
- Best suited to clinicians with a background or interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, reproductive medicine, women’s health, acute gynaecology or a closely related field.
- Applicants should demonstrate maturity, professionalism and commitment to respectful, confidential, non-judgemental care in sensitive reproductive health settings.
- Observers must understand that patient consent, privacy and service capacity may limit attendance in some consultations or procedures.
Fellowship
Termination Services
Objectives
By the end of the placement, fellows should be able to:
- Develop understanding of NHS abortion care delivered through a confidential, non-judgemental and dignity-focused service.
- Gain supervised exposure to patient assessment, counselling, treatment options, follow-up care, contraception provision and STI screening within termination services.
- Understand the range of medical and surgical abortion methods provided, including early medical, later medical, outpatient surgical and inpatient surgical pathways, where criteria are met.
- Observe multidisciplinary working across consultants, resident doctors, specialist nurses, clinic co-ordinators and counsellors.
- Build awareness of care for patients with complex medical problems and those requiring support through pregnancy-related decision making.
- Reflect on safe, compassionate and patient-centred approaches to abortion care that could inform practice or service development in the fellow’s home setting
Eligibility
Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in obstetrics and gynaecology, fetal medicine, maternal-fetal medicine or a closely related specialty.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in obstetrics and gynaecology or related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains.
Registration: GMC registration is required for fellows.
Fellows must meet all MFT, GMC, indemnity, occupational health, safeguarding and information-governance requirements before any clinical participation is considered.