The Te Mahoe Unit at Wellington Regional Hospital provides abortion and counselling services.
Abortion care at Te Mahoe Unit (TMU)
Abortion care is an essential part of health care for women and we will maintain services even where non-urgent or elective services are suspended.
Please continue to contact us for advice on abortion. We will provide your care as early as possible in your pregnancy.
If you are worried about being able to travel to hospital for any reason please contact us. We will work with you to find a solution that is best for you.
Changes to the law governing abortions took effect on 24 March. There is now no longer a requirement for certifying consultants to certify the grounds for abortion.
If you need abortion services or advice you can:
- Contact us directly phoning Te Mahoe Unit on 04 806 0761. We will order your bloods online and on your first visit will organise an ultrasound at CCDHB with necessary workup.
- Ask your GP or Family Planning to refer you.
Options available to you
Under 9 weeks pregnant
You will be able to opt for an early medical abortion if you are 9 weeks pregnant or under and have no medical or other issues that would make this option unsafe.You may have the option of going home to miscarry if you live within 30 minutes of a tertiary hospital.
You will need to come to Te Mahoe Unit at Wellington Hospital for at least one appointment. You will be given all the medications and information you need to have an early medical abortion safely at home – this may not be possible in one visit depending on meeting all the necessary requirements.
You’ll be given advice on:
- How and when to take medications.
- A 24-hour number to only ring if you have any complications or an emergency.
- Follow up information.
- A prescription for pain relief and anti-sickness medication
- Contraception
- Option to stay on the ward to complete the process and be supported by nursing staff
5-14 weeks pregnant
If you are between 5 to 14 weeks pregnant you can have a surgical termination under conscious sedation. You will be awake during the procedure.
You will need to come into the Te Mahoe Unit at Wellington Hospital for a 2-day appointment system.
If you are worried about being able to travel to hospital for any reason, please contact us. We will work with you to find a solution that is best for you.
You may need two appointments – one to check your medical history, have counselling (if you choose to have this) and perform an ultrasound and blood/swab tests if these are unable to be done in the community. You’ll then have a second appointment for the procedure.
Where possible we will try to do some of these consultations over the phone so you only have to come into the hospital for one appointment. However, this may not always be possible.
15-19 weeks pregnant
After you are 15 weeks pregnant, surgical abortion will be done under general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthetic. Your GP should refer you for an ultra-sound scan before you come into the Te Mahoe Unit for this procedure but this may not be possible so please self-refer directly to avoid any delays in availing of an appropriate service
Over 19 weeks pregnant
At this late gestation an induction of labour may be possible if the criteria of the law is met.
Counselling services
As we are trying to minimise person to person contact to prevent the spread of Covid-19, some of your counselling and medical services may be by phone to limit the time you need to spend in the hospital.
However, you may still need to come into CCDHB. Our trained administration team will speak to you confidentially on the phone to make sure you are triaged with the most appropriate consultation for your situation.
At Covid Level 4 no support or children are allowed at CCDHB due to the associated risks. Our MDT may provide exemptions on a case-by-case triage.
Abortion Services in New Zealand
The Terrace Unit
620 High Street
Lower Hutt
Private Bag 31907
Lower Hutt
P: (04) 566 6999
F: (04) 566 9083
Where to go:
Hutt Valley Hospital
Almost all patients from the Hutt Valley region will need to travel to te Mahoe Unit in Wellington for their abortion care.
Termination under general anaesthetic is provided in Hutt Hospital for those who insist on Hutt Hospital for exceptional circumstances. The referring doctor needs to contact Hutt Hospital gynaecologists to discuss this.
The First Step
You can self-refer or visit your GP or Family Planning Clinic. They will talk to you and organise required work up and offer you a counselling appointment and, if you wish, book you an appointment at the clinic at the Te Mahoe Unit in Wellington Hospital.
Counselling
Counselling is available but not mandatory at Te Mahoe Unit. As well as offering counselling they will also explain the process and options available to you. The counsellor is also available to you after for post-abortion counselling at any time.
Early Medical termination at the Te Mahoe Unit
Medical termination is available to all women up to 9 weeks of pregnancy if you have no medical or other issues that would make this option unsafe.
You will need to come to Wellington hospital for your appointments. You will be given all the medication and advice required to safely pass the pregnancy at home. If you wish we can arrange for you to be a day patient on the ward if more appropriate.
Surgical Termination at the Te Mahoe Unit
The procedure is done by vacuum aspiration under local anaesthetic (awake) up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. For gestations between 15 and 19 weeks a termination under General Anaesthetic (asleep) is performed and a 2 day process.
Over 19 weeks an induction of labour may be possible if the criteria of the law is met.
Follow-up counselling is available, as above, through the counsellors at the Te Mahoe Unit.
We advise a check-up within 4-6 weeks with your own GP or FPA. The service is free within the above timeframe.
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