THE number of 'legal' abortions carried out in hospitals in Northern Ireland last year fell to eight - four less than the previous year.
Figures released by the Department of Health also reveal the number of women travelling to England for free abortions following a law change in June 2017 has increased by 22 per cent in a year.
A total of 1,053 women living in the north had NHS funded terminations in England in 2018, compared with 861 the previous year. They previously had to pay for the procedure themselves.
The landmark decriminalistion of abortion in Northern Ireland took place last October.
The change means that women who seek abortions and medical staff who help them can no longer be prosecuted
Prior to this, abortion laws in the north were among the strictest in Europe, and only permitted if a woman's life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health.
A consultation on how the new laws will operate ended last December, with legislation due to passed in April, with the north currently in a 'limbo' period.
Proposals on time limits for terminations, where procedures are carried out and conscientious objections by health professionals were among those contained in the consultation document.
The current time time for abortions in England and Wales is 24 weeks.
The document sets out proposals for up to 22 weeks or 24 weeks in certain circumstances. In the Republic, abortions are now permitted up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.
The need for "exclusion zones" outside healthcare facilities is also set out, due to concern about the "distress" caused by anti-abortion protestors who "may prevent patients from accessing the healthcare services they are entitled to".
It is not yet known how many responses the consultation document received.
By law, a new 'framework' for abortion regulations must come into effect by March 31.
Grainne Teggart of Amnesty International said the latest department figures showed a "huge gap" between the number of women who legally accessed abortion and the number of those who travelled to England.
"Just eight terminations were carried out in Northern Ireland for 2018/2019 – representing a tiny fraction of the number of people who travelled elsewhere in UK to access the service, and not including those who accessed pills online.
"This demonstrates just how necessary our new law is. Soon, those who need a termination will have their choices treated with dignity and respect at home.
"All eyes are now on the Northern Ireland Secretary of State to ensure regulations and a swift transition to services that respect rights, choice and are fully accessible."
Anti-abortion groups, including Precious Life, continue to lobby against the relaxation of laws in the north.
However, Northern Ireland Office sources said last year that it is a matter of "how and not when" the new laws come into force.
