Health staff who have a conscientious objection to abortion will receive protection when the law is reformed.

Members approved an amendment, tabled by Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East), to set out the protection available to staff.

The final version of the amendment was the result of consultation between Mr Robertshaw and Dr Alex Allinson.

The bill already stipulated health workers could not be forced to take part in abortion treatment if they had a genuine conscientious objection.

Mr Robertshaw’s amendment stipulated that the Department of Health and Social Care must not sack anyone for refusing to take part in abortion treatments or counselling.

However, MHKs decided not to include a proviso that specified the department could not ’refuse to employ a person on the ground that the person may refuse to participate’ in activities covered in the Abortion Reform Bill.

That was in Mr Robertshaw’s original amendment, but Dr Alex Allinson tabled an add-on amendment to remove that specification and also change the references from ’activity’, in the original version, to ’treatment or counselling’.

Dr Allinson explained the potential problems of leaving the amendment as it stood.

’It makes the recruitment of staff quite difficult for the DHSC,’ he said.

’Secondly, it uses the term "activity" rather than "treatment".

’There have been cases in the United Kingdom, for instance, where secretaries have not sent out letters for appointments for an abortion. If we were to go down that line it could be that we would not have a functioning health service.’

Mr Robertshaw confirmed he had held discussions with Dr Allinson and was satisfied with the proposed alteration.

’I feel that his contribution is better in the circumstances than that which I put down,’ he said.

But Chief Minister Howard Quayle expressed his reservations and said he wanted to keep in the section about refusing to employ someone.

He argued that by supporting that rule: ’We are sending out a message that you can work for the health service if you have a conscientious objection. It will send out a clear message that if you have a certain belief, you can work for the health service.’

But MHKs, including Mr Robertshaw, voted in favour of removing that section of the amendment and changing the wording elsewhere, by 19 votes to five.

Those against making the changes were Mr Quayle (Middle), Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael,) Kate Beecroft (Douglas South), Geoffrey Boot (Glenfaba and Peel), Ray Harmer (Glenfaba and Peel).

When Mr Robertshaw’s updated amendment was put to the vote, it was approved unanimously.