Abortion clinic for Chch?

Press, 15 October 1981, Page 6

Abortion clinic for Chch?

Steps are being taken to set up an abortion clinic in Christchurch. Funds for the project are being sought by the North Canterbury Hospital Board from the Health Department and possible sites will be investigated. The free standing unit will be sited either on or near the grounds of the Christchurch Women’s Hospital, but will not be in the hospital, the chairman of the board, Mr T. C. Grigg, told its health services committe yesterday. The request for extra funds results from a meeting between the: board and the Abortion Supervisory Committee last month. The committee agreed with the board that a centre be established in Christchurch and that the city become the main centre for abortions in the South Island. The centre will be similar to those in Auckland and Wellington. Up to 90 abortions a month are being performed at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and the staff are unable to cope with the demand. In a letter to the Director - General of Health, seeking money for extra staff for the clinic, the medical superin-tendent-in-chief, Dr R. A. Fairgray, said that 25 per cent of the abortions were performed on patients living outside the hospital board’s area. “Unless additional facilities are provided it is likely

that the board will not be able to treat these patients in the future,” he said. The board also sought interim staff increases to cope with the demand and ease “over-stretched” facilities. “Pressure, both physical and psychological, on the staff is such that there is a real danger that existing services will cease to function,” said Dr Fairgray. The Abortion Supervisory Committee agreed that the extra staff should be appointed as soon as possible “to ensure a smooth transition.” The Abortion Law Reform Association says it is “delighted" that there may be an abortion clinic in Christchurch. As it would be a day clinic, women would not have the embarrassment of sharing wards with other gynaecological patients, said Ms Pat Syme, a spokesman for the association, last evening. “We hope it will be a supportive and caring facility where staff are appointed because they choose to work there,” she said. It was good to see that the board also envisaged providing a contraceptive and sterilisation service, Ms Syme said. Women had to wait more than 18 months for sterilisations at Christchurch Women’s Hospital.