New abortion clinic for regional NSW

By Leslie Williams

CANBERRA -- A new, privately owned gynaecological clinic in the NSW regional city of Queanbeyan, bordering the Australian Capital Territory, is to provide services to women, beginning with the provision of day surgical abortion.

Ironically, it was legislation passed in the ACT in November 1998 that prompted the creation of the facility. The law, introduced in an attempt to close the only public facility providing abortions in the region, was overwhelmingly opposed by ACT residents.

In a letter sent to all doctors in the ACT introducing the new centre, Drs Meaghan Heckenberg and Paul Hyland state, “In NSW, the law allows your patients to be treated with dignity -- without persuasion or intimidation. No pictures, no wait and no psychological inducement to change their decision.” Support and counselling will be available at the clinic.

The service will cost $220 above the Medicare rebate. Women in the ACT are already able to access legal abortion at either the public clinic, where fees are set according to income, or privately in doctors' rooms or private hospitals.

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