Where to go

West Coast

Buller District, Grey District, Westland District

There is no local abortion service on the West Coast.

All patients will be referred to the Gynaecology Procedure Unit in Christchurch for their abortion care.

The First Step

To be referred, you can see a GP or Family Planning doctor or to talk to one of the pregnancy counsellors at Grey or Westport Hospital.

They will talk to you and organise for you to have essential blood and swab tests, and if you wish, book you in to the Gynaecology Procedure Unit in Christchurch.

Counselling

A qualified pregnancy counsellor/social worker is based at Grey Base Hospital. They provide pregnancy counselling to all women covering the geographic region from Greymouth to Haast.

  • Phone: (03) 769 7400 ext 2924 or pager 46 / Cell phone 0272445982

  • Fax: (03) 768 2793

Another qualified pregnancy counsellor/social worker is based at Buller Hospital in Westport and covers the region for Karamea to Reefton.

  • Phone: (03) 788 9030 ext  8718

  • Fax: (03) 788 9292

A Māori counsellor is based in Hokitika.

  • Phone: (03) 756 9700 ext 7907  / Cell phone 0272 445 999

  • The counselling service is free and confidential to any woman.

Follow-up counselling is available post procedure.

Medical Termination

Medical termination is not available to women from the South Canterbury region.

Surgical Termination at the Christchurch Gynaecology Procedure Unit

The procedure is done by vacuum aspiration under local anaesthetic with sedation (awake but sedated).

Termination more than 13 weeks pregnant

If your pregnancy is more than 12 weeks and 6 days you will be assessed at the Christchurch Gynaecology Procedure Unit and referred to Christchurch Women's Hospital.

Follow up

Follow-up is provided by the referring doctor or the operating doctor if preferred by the patient. Follow-up counselling is available in the Counselling Department if needed.