Abortion provider Marie Stopes has announced it’s closing several of its regional clinics, including one in Newcastle.
The Broadmeadow clinic will shut its doors in August, along with facilities in Rockhampton, Southport and Townsville.
The company said it had to make difficult decision in the wake of the pandemic, as it’s unable to meet new lease terms on these clinics, nor keep up with anticipated future costs associated with increasing accreditation, standards and regulation.
While many health organisations struggle to provide services in regional centres, Managing Director of Marie Stopes Australia, Jamal Hakim, says it’s even more difficult for Marie Stopes to find skilled medical staff willing to provide abortion care.
“It’s a tough decision. We fought long and hard with many of our supporters for these clinics and our staff are absolutely committed, but we just can’t make these clinics work financially so we’re going work with government and partners to continue to ensure safe abortion care is available to all, because abortion is a fundamental human right in a modern democracy,” said Ms Hakin.
Marie Stopes will continue to take bookings until the end of July and will work with local hospitals to make sure that women and pregnant people can still have a safe abortion in these areas in the same way it already does for people living in other regional areas.
Over the next six weeks Marie Stopes will consult with the 49 members of staff whose roles are impacted, working to re-deploy roles, where possible, as a first step.
“We’re fiercely committed to abortion care but before we announce our new plan to meet these challenges, we’re taking this moment to grieve with our passionate staff and supporters,” said Ms Hakin.
