44.—(1) This regulation applies to an independent hospital in which termination of pregnancies takes place.
(2) The registered person must ensure that no patient is admitted to the hospital for termination of a pregnancy, and that no fee is demanded or accepted from a patient in respect of a termination, unless two certificates of opinion have been received in respect of the patient.
(3) The registered person must ensure that the certificates of opinion required by paragraph (2) are included with the patient’s medical record, within the meaning of regulation 23.
(4) The registered person must ensure that no termination of a pregnancy is undertaken after the 20th week of gestation, unless—
(a)the patient is treated by persons who are suitably qualified, skilled and experienced in the late termination of pregnancy; and
(b)appropriate procedures are in place to deal with any medical emergency which occurs during or as a result of the termination.
(5) The registered person must ensure that no termination of a pregnancy is undertaken after the 24th week of gestation.
(6) The registered person must ensure that a register of patients undergoing termination of a pregnancy in the hospital is maintained, which is—
(i)separate from the register of patients which is to be maintained under paragraph 1 of Schedule 3;
(ii)completed in respect of each patient at the time the termination is undertaken; and
(iii)retained for a period of not less than three years beginning on the date of the last entry.
(7) The registered person must prepare and implement appropriate procedures in the hospital to ensure that foetal tissue is treated with respect.
(8) In this regulation, “certificate of opinion” (“tystysgrif barn”) means a certificate required by regulations made under section 2(1) of the Abortion Act 1967(1).