00:00Reflective, but still reeling, Melissa's carefully planned surgical abortion was upended by a
00:09phone call just hours before she was due to be admitted to hospital.
00:14He just basically said, I'm really sorry, we can't do the procedure today.
00:18I was broke down, I was like, what do you mean, where does that leave me?
00:23On the phone was her obstetrician.
00:25I could tell he was baffled by the whole situation and he didn't understand why it hadn't happened.
00:32Melissa's surgical termination was meant to be performed here at Queenbeyan District Hospital
00:37in southern New South Wales.
00:39Her baby had severe, life-limiting malformations.
00:43This hospital had performed the same procedure under similar circumstances before.
00:48But the ABC can reveal that since Melissa's experience, the hospital suddenly stopped
00:53providing surgical terminations for foetal anomalies and medical reasons.
00:57Melissa's GP says there's been no explanation of the late cancellation, despite repeated
01:03requests to the local health district.
01:06She fears an ideological opposition to abortion could ultimately be behind it.
01:11It feels like you're shadowboxing, that there's a pushback and you're not really sure why,
01:16and that's very frustrating.
01:18The local health district says it supports women to access abortion services, including
01:23medical termination of pregnancy.
01:26Doctors are calling it an unspoken ban.
01:29In Orange, the local members also seeking answers, after the hospital there stopped
01:34providing abortions for non-medical reasons.
01:37This is something that's permitted under law, it's a public health institution.
01:41The local health district that oversees Orange has confirmed it is sending women seeking
01:46abortions for non-medical reasons to private providers or family planning.
01:51The power lies with the minister and with the health department.
01:55And it's really important that they ensure that this essential health care is delivered.
02:00Melissa eventually had a medical abortion at her local hospital.
02:05Ultimately though, she was denied the right to choose.
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