Women's health services in the North of Tasmania have welcomed the implementation of a statewide referral pathway for women seeking access to surgical terminations, but Labor said obstacles still exist.
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On October 4, the Department of Health implemented statewide guidelines for general practitioners and women's health services, clarifying the pathways to obtain a surgical termination in Tasmania.
Under the new guidelines, directions have been provided so all women have access to surgical services, with a priority placed on public access for patients who meet the defined vulnerability criteria.
Family Planning Tasmania chief executive Cedric Manen said he welcomed the guidelines, explaining they provided clarity for patients and medical services.
"Previously, they didn't define what that vulnerable criteria was, so it was up to the hospital system to allow and or deny based on their definition of vulnerability,'' he said.
"This very clearly lays it out, and I would say it's capturing most women that require that type of support."
Under the current system, women who meet the vulnerability criteria will have access to no-cost surgical termination at the Launceston General Hospital, or North-West Regional Hospital, while those with private healthcare will have access to private services in the South and North-West of the state.
Women's Health Tasmania chief executive Jo Flanagan said the pathway represented an important step forward in reducing stigma and supporting services for women seeking a termination.
"Abortion was removed from the Criminal Code in 2013, but since then, we've been struggling to have the service system to support the legislation," she said.
"What the new referral pathway guarantees is that women will be able to receive this service like any other sexual and reproductive health service in their local public hospital.
"It ensures access and equity for women across Tasmania, and it makes this health service, the provision of this health service, consistent across Tasmania."
Ms Flanagan said while the pathway had placed specific emphasis on women who met the vulnerability criteria, the statewide process would ensure all women had access to affordable services.
"We have what are called brokerage funds, that's money that you can use to purchase services," she said.
"The patients who won't be referred to the public hospitals will be women who don't have private health insurance because women with private health insurance will go to the private system, but everyone else will be reviewed to see if they made the vulnerability criteria."
Ms Flanagan said women without private health insurance who did not meet the vulnerability criteria could go to the private system, with the cost of their procedure brokered by a prescribed health service.
Newstead Medical Centre partner and GP Dr Toby Gardner said while the pathway was a good outcome for vulnerable women, it still presented barriers for some seeking a termination.
"It's not good for Launceston based women who fall into the private category, they still need to travel 2 hours to the North-West or Hobart to access a service," he said.
Dr Gardner said the majority of his referrals were private patients who would not be granted a termination at the LGH.
He said most of the women would need to spend the night in the North-West or South following the procedure - further compounding the termination process.
Labor Women spokeswoman Michelle O'Byrne said the guidelines deeming only vulnerable women could qualify for the services through a state hospitals was an obstacle for those seeking a termination.
"Termination is legal in Tasmania. The fact is this government has thrown obstacle after obstacle in the way of access," she said.
"Women should not have to prove or disclose their vulnerabilities in order to access public healthcare."
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the statewide guidelines were based on the principles of equity.
"Surgical Terminations up to 16 weeks were previously only available to vulnerable women at the Royal Hobart Hospital resulting in an inequity were women in the North and North-West had to travel and often be away from home to access this procedure," he said.
Mr Rockliff said The Department of Health was not aware of any women who had been denied access to a surgical termination on the grounds of being insufficiently vulnerable under the new pathway.
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