Referring a patient for abortion care at King Edward Memorial Hospital
Clinician Assist WA (external site) is a web-based portal with current information on referral and management pathways, helping clinicians to access appropriate services in the primary, community and acute health care settings in WA for patients. Clinician Assist offer clinicians locally agreed information to make the right decisions, together with patients, at the point of care.
WNHS works together with Clinician Assist WA (external site) to ensure the pathways are current. Please refer to the Unintended pregnancy and Abortion Care pathway when considering a referral to King Edward Memorial Hospital for abortion care.
Health practitioners can call 1800 4 CHOICE (external site) to access information on abortion care and service providers across WA.
Routine abortion is generally provided through general practitioners and private clinics in the community. KEMH does not provide an early routine abortion service. However, it can facilitate care for women and people in specific circumstances abortion care is provided if:
- medical co-morbidities, anaesthetic issues or social circumstances exclude them from community-based abortion providers
- they have a defined fetal abnormality identified in this pregnancy; or
- they are aged 14 years or less.
The specific type of abortion provided (medical or surgical) will be determined by an assessment of the individual clinical needs of the patient.
Adolescents under 14 years
requesting an abortion will be seen and managed at KEMH, or advice can be provided for other health service providers depending on individual needs. This is a specialised service available to all young women and persons aged 14 years and under from across WA.
Accessing abortion care for people with pregnancies that have been identified as high risk
of congenital conditions from first trimester screening testing, or anatomical ultrasound, should be referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit at KEMH or Fiona Stanley Hospital, for further investigations and counselling.
Pregnancy gestation greater than 23 weeks
requires a second medical practitioner and additional medical procedures may be required. Please contact the Pregnancy Choices and Abortion Care Clinic at KEMH to be guided through this process.
Clinical exclusion
King Edward Memorial Hospital does not provide early routine abortion services. If you would like more information on where your patient can seek a routine abortion, refer to the Chief Health Officer approved information for patients (PDF) and consider calling 1800 4 CHOICE (external site) for information and advice.
Contact the Pregnancy Choices and Abortion Care Co-ordinator at WNHS on (08) 6458 2222 if further assistance is needed.
Referral process
For those eligible for WNHS Abortion care services, or in situations of financial distress, please send the referral as per process below:
- Email a detailed referral to KEMH.referrals@health.wa.gov.au
- Contact information, including mobile phone number & advise if patient unable to receive mobile telephone calls
- Medical, surgical and obstetric history, clearly outlining medical issues of concern, social circumstances of concern, and or financial distress request
- Investigations and results relevant to this pregnancy, if they have been performed - ultrasound, blood group and screen and FBP
- In subject line write 'Attention Pregnancy Choices and Abortion Care Co-Ordinator, Urgent referral'.
- Alternatively, fax details to (08) 6458 1031.
Please include in the referral:
Do not send referrals via Central Referral Service as there may be time critical delays in the referral being received.
The minimum required demographic and clinical information needed for referrals to public services can be found: Guide for referring to WA public outpatient services (external site)