Schoolgirl, aged 13, becomes youngest patient to have abortion at flagship hospital

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A 13-year-old girl has become the youngest patient to undergo an abortion at a flagship hospital

The child was the youngest mum-to-be to abort her baby at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital in Norwich last year.

The pregnant youngster was one of 118 females to undergo the medical procedure at the busy city hospital.

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The oldest woman to have an abortion at the hospital in 2016 was 46.

The number of abortions recorded at the Norfolk and Norwich dropped slightly from 127 in 2014 and 121 in 2015, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The youngest patient to have an abortion in 2014 was 14 while the oldest that year was 44.

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The teenage girl underwent the procedure at Norfolk & Norwich University hospital

The youngest to have an abortion in 2015 was 15 and the oldest that year was 43.

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Humanists said: "It is unlikely to be an easy decision. Requiring an abortion is a situation that most women would prefer to avoid.

"For society as a whole, as well as for the children themselves, it is better if every child is a wanted child."

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The hospital have previously seen patients as young as 14 and 15 years old

She added: "However, abortion is not the best way of avoiding unwanted children.

"Improved sex education, easily available contraception, and better education and opportunities for young women can all help to reduce the number of abortions.

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A spokeswoman for Norfolk Humanists believes improved sex education will reduce abortion rates

"But as long as abortion is needed as a last resort, most humanists would agree that society should provide safe legal facilities.

"The alternatives, which would inevitably include illegal abortions, are far worse."

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