A doctor who confronted anti-abortion protestors outside a Glasgow maternity unit has issued a plea to First Minister Humza Yousaf over the "desperate need" for buffer zones.
Around 100 members of 40 Days for life gathered at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for their last vigil yesterday after almost six weeks of protests.
Dr Greg Irwin, a consultant at Glasgow Children's Hospital, slammed the group saying they are 'bullying' women attending the hospital to seek abortion healthcare.
In a message to Yousaf, Dr Irwin called for the buffer zone bill to be pushed through, slamming the protestors action as "completely out of order".
He said: "First of all, congratulations on your new job, I hope very much that you're going to push through Gillian Mackay's buffer zones bill as soon as possible because as you can see we've got well over 100 demonstrators. Protestors outside my hospital right now.
"These people are here to bully women coming into the hospital and seeking abortion healthcare. That's completely out of order.
"So, Mr Yousaf, I know you've got a lot on your plate, but the bill's already making its way through parliament. I would very much appreciate your help in getting it in to law as soon as possible so that Scotland can catch up with the rest of the UK and bring in buffer zones to protect our sisters and our daughters. Thank you very much."
We previously reported in February how Dr Irwin confronted the anti-abortion protestors.
He clashed with four campaigners and branded their demonstration "harassment" and told them they were upsetting patients.
The medic asked the group to leave the area as they held up banners reading ‘Don’t be coerced into abortion’ with images of foetuses.
Pictures from outside of the hospital yesterday showed protestors lined up across the road from the maternity unit, with many holding what look to be small lanterns.
The group - which is linked to a US Christian organisation of the same name - claims to be non-confrontational, but in the past it has been accused of intimidating women as they head for difficult termination appointments.
In response to the event, pro-choice campaigners arrived earlier at 7am on Sunday morning to put up almost 200 posters, bearing messages such as "bans don't stop abortions - they stop safe abortions" and "my rights, my body, my choice".
The display, which spanned several metres, was organised by LGBTQ+ protest group Cabaret Against The Hate Speech (CATHS).
Between four and six members of 40 Days for Life remained QEUH since 8am on Sunday, with CATHS campaigners staging what they called a "gentle counter-protest".
However, the police arrived following a report of a noise complaint after counter-protesters played music to drown out the activists.
Yousaf previously said that he is already committed to bringing in buffer zone legislation, introduced to Parliament by Green MSP Gillian MacKay.
In a letter to campaign group Back Off Scotland last month, he said he "unequivocally" supports bringing in the legislation "as quickly as is practicable". The CATHS spokesperson added of the protests: "I hope this is the last time 40 Days For Life will legally be able to do this."
Gillian McKay today said the targeting of staff and patients at clinic offering women’s health care including abortions must be brought to an end.
She branded the images of the lantern wielding protestors intimidating as “sickening".
She added: “If they thought this would help their cruel US imported ideology then it has backfired spectacularly. All they have done is make the case absolutely for speeding up the introduction of safe access zones.
“They have galvanised support around my Bill with a flood of messages to my office in the past 24-hrs from people asking what help they can offer to speed up its introduction.
“This is not about freedom of speech, this is absolutely about protecting the rights of women to choose, to be protected and to feel safe when accessing healthcare. It is about supporting staff and clinicians to do their job without fear.
“The 40 Days doctrine is at odds with that, it surely borders on criminality and such displays must be brought to an end. I hope it can be the last time people are forced to endure such repugnant scenes.
“I will be speaking with colleagues across the Scottish Parliament and with the Scottish Government with a view to progressing my Bill at the earliest opportunity to ensure safe access zones are introduced as soon as possible.
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