For the past six years, the abortion service at Broadmeadows Hospital has been providing an essential service to the community.
The service offers both early medication and surgical abortion in a pro-choice, safe, and supportive environment.
Operating on Thursdays and Fridays, the clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary team including clinical midwives, doctors, a counsellor-social worker, and a research midwife.
Together they ensure that patients receive the highest level of care and support throughout their journey.
Northern Health clinical midwife consultant and clinic co-ordination Kate Chaouki said the abortion service at Broadmeadows Hospital is an integral part of Northern Health’s ongoing efforts to provide accessible reproductive healthcare services for women in the region.
“Access to safe abortion is an essential part of reproductive health care. We are proud to offer this service at Northern Health and enjoy working collaboratively with primary health care providers and other major health services to ensure ongoing provision of high-quality abortion care to our community,” she said.
Counsellor- social worker Sarah Wotherspoon joined the abortion service in June 2023. The addition of social work has broadened the scope of the clinic and allows access to non-directive pregnancy counselling, family violence support and other vital assistance to patients who need it.
“We knew that social work was important in this space, but had not quite anticipated the high level of demand for Sarah’s skills in the clinic. We recently celebrated Sarah’s 200th referral for abortion counselling-social work and could not provide this level of comprehensive care without her,” Ms Chaouki said.
Ms Wotherspoon said she enjoyed working in this space and consistently receives positive feedback from patients whose experience of abortion care is enhanced by her support.
“I am proud to work with this highly skilled, supportive and kind team, providing an essential health service to our patients,” she said.
Those who are pregnant and seeking pregnancy options counselling can contact 1800 My Options, a pro-choice abortion and contraception information and telephone service. 1800 My Options is available Monday to Friday, 9 am-5 pm, via www.1800myoptions.org.au or 1800 696 784.
