NHS probes leak of abortion secret

A patient's complaint that her family learned about her abortion from a hospital worker is to be investigated, an NHS board said today

The 19-year-old mother of two said an administration worker told her Catholic grandmother about the confidential procedure at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales.

The woman, who has not been named, told the BBC her grandmother disowned her and she now regretted the medical abortion, carried out three months into her pregnancy, because of the impact on her family.

She said her grandmother was "disgusted" with her after hearing about the abortion from a friend working at the hospital.

"She is a very strong Catholic and couldn't forgive me," she told the BBC.

"I was absolutely devastated. Me and my nan used to be really close. Now she passes me in the street without a word."

She added: "I'm a good mum and I love my kids. But I couldn't have another baby. My boyfriend was off to the Army - I would have been left on my own with three babies."

A spokeswoman for Cwm Taf Health Board said: "We can confirm that we are currently engaged with her as part of the complaint procedure.

"Consequently, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further on this case."

It follows claims of a similar breach of confidentiality last week when a nurse reportedly told the family of a 16-year-old girl about her secret abortion.

Luton and Dunstable Hospital said it was reviewing the circumstances of the case after it was reported that the girl was thrown out of her home.