Hannah Hammoud
Northern Health’s family planning clinic will be expanded to provide vital sexual and reproductive health services to people in the north.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny visited the clinic on International Women’s Day to announce the increased services.
The family planning clinic provides comprehensive abortion care, alongside no-cost counselling and advice on contraception, STI prevention and treatment and general sexual health awareness.
To meet growing demand for these services, the clinic is increasing its team of midwives and gynaecologists, adding a second session for clinical consultations and surgical services each week.
This will see the number of women who can access termination services double, from six to 12 each week.
A grant from the Victorian Nursing and Midwifery Trust and the University of Melbourne will also have two midwifery researchers based at the clinic working with patients, staff and the community to co-design a model of care that meets the specific needs of the local community.
Ms Halfpenny said that all women deserve access to safe and affordable reproductive options.
“All women deserve access to safe, affordable reproductive options and this expanded clinic will ensure just that – so more local women can get the care they need, close to home.”
