The New South Wales health secretary has issued an apology to women who have faced difficulties accessing abortion care within the state. This apology comes after an investigation by the ABC brought to light restrictions on abortion services at certain hospitals, leading to a reinstatement of services and a reassessment of abortion access across the state. During a budget estimates hearing, Greens MP Amanda Cohn questioned the health secretary about measures taken to prevent restrictions on abortion access in other areas of New South Wales.
In response to the inquiries, the health secretary, Susan Pearce, emphasized the department's commitment to ensuring access to abortion care, highlighting that the responsibility extends to various healthcare providers and organizations beyond just New South Wales Health. Pearce acknowledged the importance of simplifying the complex healthcare system for women seeking abortion services, noting ongoing efforts to assess and improve access at a district level. The department also revealed that a comprehensive review of the Abortion Law Reform Act of 2019 had been published, analyzing the efficacy of the legislation and making recommendations for enhancements.
The review of the Abortion Law Reform Act recognized the positive impact of the legislation in treating abortion as a health issue and reducing stigma surrounding the procedure. However, it also pointed out disparities in access for different demographic groups, including women in regional or disadvantaged areas. One of the key recommendations from the review was to allow nurse practitioners and midwives to prescribe abortion pills for early terminations up to nine weeks of gestation, a change that could align New South Wales with other jurisdictions' practices. Concerns were raised about certain healthcare providers who objected to providing abortion care, highlighting instances where conscientious objectors did not adhere to the requirement of referring patients to alternative providers. Suggestions were made for improved policy guidance and training to address such challenges without necessitating legislative changes to protect women's access to abortion care.