The ABC has uncovered new evidence that another public hospital in regional New South Wales has implemented a formal ban on abortion.

Queanbeyan Hospital performed surgical terminations for fetal anomalies and medical reasons. But an ABC investigation found the service stopped abruptly in August, after a woman was turned away on the day of a planned procedure.

In response to this woman’s experience, medical professionals warned of an “unspoken ban.” But the ABC has now obtained an email proving the hospital has officially stopped providing urgent healthcare.

The email was sent last month to healthcare professionals outside the hospital, who had sought clarification from the Southern NSW Local Health District (LHD) on where to refer patients requiring surgical termination.

It appears to have been sent by one of the hospital’s doctors, on behalf of management.

The email states:

“It was found that this procedure was carried out when there was no support framework within the hospital.

“As such, the (local health) district is now looking at what this might look like in the future and in the meantime, this procedure don’t do are currently within the Queanbeyan Hospital boundary.

The ABC contacted the Southern NSW Local Health District to ask what is meant by a “support framework” and whether surgical interruptions at Queanbeyan Hospital would be reinstated, but has yet to hear received response.

Last week the ABC revealed that Orange Hospital, in the state’s central west, had introduced a new policy banning abortion for people without identified pregnancy complications or medical reasons.

That afternoon, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park made a dramatic intervention by announcing on social media that the ban had been lifted.

As part of the ABC investigation, nearly 20 clinicians and health professionals privately raised concerns about the use of conscientious objection to hinder access to abortion care.

Health minister faces growing pressure

Public pressure is growing on Health Minister Ryan Park to make abortion services available in public hospitals across the state.

Mr. Park is also facing pressure from within his own ranks. His parliamentary secretary, Bega MP Michael Holland, told the ABC he saw “no reason” why Queanbeyan should not reinstate surgical terminations.

“I am awaiting the minister’s response and I see no reason, in terms of the delineation of the roles of this hospital and the availability of clinical staff, why these services should not be returned,” Dr Holland said.

Dr Holland wrote to the minister on behalf of a dozen obstetricians, GP-obstetricians, GPs and specialists, calling on Mr. Park to intervene.

In the letter, he noted that clinicians want NSW Health to “remove the power of the executive or board of directors (LHD) to block surgical termination of pregnancy”.

He also relayed their calls for an “urgent review” to ensure LHDs are held accountable for the provision of surgical abortion “frameworks”.

“I know the minister will take action on this and look at this framework,” Dr Holland said.

The MP, a former obstetrician and gynecologist, said he had “no evidence” to suggest abortion services were being obstructed by people in positions of power at Queanbeyan Hospital. He argued that the “labor shortage” was fueling the problem.

In its 2023 budget, the state government set aside $3.5 million over four years to improve access to abortion across the state.

Green MP says abortion should be ‘essential health care’

Amanda Cohn, Greens MP in the NSW Upper House, said the amount of funding was “far from enough” because some of it goes to private providers, which can be a unaffordable option for many women.

In New South Wales, public hospitals are not required to provide formal abortion services, but they must provide referral pathways. Ms Cohn said the state government could easily change that.

“We saw the Minister of Health do the right thing last week by intervening specifically with Orange. But he needs to take additional action statewide to actually fund these services in every local health district, and not just on a case-by-case basis.” on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

“Unfortunately, abortion is not considered essential health care, although it should be. As long as it is considered optional for LHDs, we are not going to see it offered in services traditional.

“A public hospital could never turn away all patients with diabetes or those who need knee replacements. It should not turn away all patients who need an abortion.”

Ms. Cohn is drafting a private member’s bill that will push for changes to the Abortion law reform of 2019. The bill will require nurses and midwives to be able to prescribe abortifacient drugs and require mandatory notification paperwork to be removed.

It will also stipulate that conscientious objectors should be legally obliged to refer people seeking termination to an official abortion service. Current law only requires health care professionals to provide information or referral to a patient.

“What we’re seeing is that this clause is being weaponized by entire institutions or departments, which is never what it was intended to do,” Ms. Cohn said.

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