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Useful Management Information

  • In an emergency situation, medical and clinical staff cannot conscientiously object to providing care following a failed early medical termination. All Hospital and Health Services will provide services to women who present for emergency care
  • A Registered medical practitioner may perform a lawful termination on a woman who is:
    • up to a gestational limit of 22+0 weeks, for any reason
    • 22+1 weeks of gestation or more if two medical practitioners agree that, in all the circumstances, the termination should be performed
  • Termination of pregnancy is a time sensitive service and delays impact on the woman's or pregnant person's options
    • An early medical termination can normally happen at home and is available under the supervision of a GP up to 9 weeks (63 days) gestation
    • From 9 weeks gestation the woman or pregnant person will need to be admitted to hospital to have a termination
  • Legal requirements if a medical practitioner conscientiously objects to provide termination of pregnancy services

“Clinical staff may have a conscientious objection to ToP and choose not to provide counselling or prescribe medications / perform surgical TOP. Their objection must not impede or disrupt patients’ access to care relating to ToP. They must treat any patient who has requested ToP with respect and compassion. They must inform the patient of their objection and their right to seek care from another doctor and ensure the patient has sufficient information to exercise that right.

Clinical staff should be familiar with their rights and obligations in relation to ToP legislation in their local jurisdiction. If unsure, clinical staff should consult with their medical defence organisation, union and/or State or Territory AMA office for appropriate advice.

At times, a patient admitted to an institution may request ToP that the institution does not provide due to conscientious objection. In these cases, Clinicians should be allowed to refer patients seeking ToP to another institution outside the facility without repercussions for the doctor”.

  • Statewide Termination of pregnancy clinical guidelines states under the Clinical Standards that:
    • Ideally, patients should be offered an assessment appointment within 5 days of referral
    • Ideally, patients should be provided with termination of pregnancy within 2 weeks of the decision to proceed being agreed
  • Offer referral to other services as appropriate, especially where risk factors are identified (e.g. young women, women with physical or intellectual disabilities, mental illness, rape or sexual assault, domestic violence, fertility issues and cultural beliefs/values)
  • Where a young woman is sixteen years of age or under, greater consideration of an independent and appropriate counsellor/support person being available and engaged should be considered
  • Consider primary health screening or advice. i.e. Cervical Screening, Sexual Health Check, Rubella titre, domestic and family violence or sexual violence, smoking or vaping cessation advice
  • Counsel about pregnancy options and contraceptive advice

Clinical resources

Patient resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Any patient requesting a termination of pregnancy. For optimum care, an assessment appointment should be offered within 5 days of referral

NB: Full termination of pregnancy services may not be offered by individual hospitals. Request for termination service
22+1 weeks have additional complexities and should be discussed with the responsible clinician

Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • No category 2 criteria
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Essential Referral Information

  • Summary of relevant circumstances leading to the request for termination of pregnancy
  • Medical, surgical, obstetric and psychosocial history
  • Menstrual history and last menstrual period (LMP) date (if available)
  • Confirm gestation of intra-uterine live pregnancy by ultrasound

Additional Referral Information

  • BMI
  • Blood group and type
  • HPV vaccination history
  • Asymptomatic STI screen result – endocervical swab or low vaginal SELF SWAB. Also screen for chlamydia +/- gonorrhoea NAA, Trichomonas vaginalis (highly desirable)
  • STI screen might not be available before referral but is an essential part of the management.
  • History of smoking or vaping, alcohol and drug use
  • If pregnancy >10 weeks nil blood
  • For surgical termination requests please include STI screen, PCR swab, blood group
Last updated 11 July 2025

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Gold Coast Health

Internal Referrals

Termination of Pregnancy Service (qhRefer)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Termination of Pregnancy Service, Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 744 284

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Bridget Gilsenan
Medical Director Obstetrics

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

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