In light of the decades-long confusion over what is now called #Clinic554, “private clinics” and #AccessToAbortion in Atlantic Canada, here’s my thread. I provide abortion care now from a hospital-located clinic in NS, but years ago I escorted at Clinic 554 (then Morgentaler). 1/
Abortion was completely decriminalized in Canada in 1988. Since then, barriers are largely about affordability & accessibility (mainly due to few willing providers & the giant geography of Canada). Approval of Mifegymiso in 2017, prescribable by any FP/NP, improved access tons 2/
But medical abortion is not a panacea. If you are beyond 9 or so weeks, not safe to or comfortable miscarrying at home, and can’t access surgical back up if it fails, you might not want to choose Mifegymiso. We still need surgical abortion. It’s quick and very safe. 3/
#Clinic554 provides surgical abortion < 16 wks (and Mife too of course). The hospitals that provide surgical abortion in NB (Moncton, Dumont and Bathurst) only provide to <14 wks. While a small number of patients need care in this window, those patients are important. 4/
Back in 2014, Brian Gallant was elected as premier of NB partially on the platform that the Libs would remove the archaic requirement for TWO physicians to ‘approve’ your abortion before you could receive hospital care. Self-referral was also introduced. (1-844-808-9205). 5/
The advocates behind these changes, led by @ReproJusticeNB, also wanted to change the NB Medical Services Payment Act section 84-20, which included a clause preventing public funding for abortion outside of hospitals. We still want this changed. It’s clearly anti-abortion. 6/
In Canada, each province/territory funds services provided by hospitals & physicians. This is inadequate, Medicare should include home care, pharmacare, etc. It’s archaic. But in any event, the province pays physicians for the work they do in their offices. Private offices. 7/
Sorry my tweet thread got messed up because I am typing this while responding to two children in my care. #pandemiclife 8/
The Gallant Libs never removed that clause, preventing #Clinic554 fr billing @NBHealth for their abortion services. The clinic has a procedure rm, recovery Rn, counselling rm, etc. Expenses are high. W/out public funding, 554 had to charge pts. @BlaineHiggs kept status quo. 8/
#Clinic554 is such an essential part of abortion care provision in NB that the govt lists it as a source of abortion care, even tho it refuses to pay for it. Calling it a ‘private clinic’ is deliberately inflammatory, bc all physician offices are private spaces/businesses. 9/ 
But medical abortion is not a panacea. If you are beyond 9 or so weeks, not safe to or comfortable miscarrying at home, and can’t access surgical back up if it fails, you might not want to choose Mifegymiso. We still need surgical abortion. It’s quick and very safe. 3/
#Clinic554 provides surgical abortion < 16 wks (and Mife too of course). The hospitals that provide surgical abortion in NB (Moncton, Dumont and Bathurst) only provide to <14 wks. While a small number of patients need care in this window, those patients are important. 4/
Back in 2014, Brian Gallant was elected as premier of NB partially on the platform that the Libs would remove the archaic requirement for TWO physicians to ‘approve’ your abortion before you could receive hospital care. Self-referral was also introduced. (1-844-808-9205). 5/
The advocates behind these changes, led by @ReproJusticeNB, also wanted to change the NB Medical Services Payment Act section 84-20, which included a clause preventing public funding for abortion outside of hospitals. We still want this changed. It’s clearly anti-abortion. 6/
In Canada, each province/territory funds services provided by hospitals & physicians. This is inadequate, Medicare should include home care, pharmacare, etc. It’s archaic. But in any event, the province pays physicians for the work they do in their offices. Private offices. 7/
The Gallant Libs never removed that clause, preventing #Clinic554 fr billing @NBHealth for their abortion services. The clinic has a procedure rm, recovery Rn, counselling rm, etc. Expenses are high. W/out public funding, 554 had to charge pts. @BlaineHiggs kept status quo. 8/
#Clinic554 is such an essential part of abortion care provision in NB that the govt lists it as a source of abortion care, even tho it refuses to pay for it. Calling it a ‘private clinic’ is deliberately inflammatory, bc all physician offices are private spaces/businesses. 9/
Every person in Canada/Turtle Island deserves to know how public health care funding works and it’s limitations. Physician offices are private businesses. The walk-in clinics we frequent are private businesses- the prov pays the on call MD for checking out our possible strep. 10/
The incredible thing about #Clinic554 is that back in my escort days, it was only open on Tuesdays, only for abortion. And there were a lot of antis put harassing patients. Now it’s a full time family practice for prob 1000 pts, plus offers a specialization in trans heath. 11/
I don’t know if anywhere else in the country where this kind of care is available. (Please educate me if I am missing something). 12/
The @BlaineHiggs govt was already reprimanded by @PattyHajdu /the feds for defying the Canada Heath Act in NB’s refusal to fund essential abortion care at #Clinic554. The feds were holding back transfer payments to hold NB accountable. Due to #Covid, the feds returned the $. 12/
We’re not talking about a lot of money. We’re not talking about blasting into 2 tier healthcare. We’re talking about a spiteful, archaic govt that manipulates facts to abuse socially oppressed individuals who have trouble quickly getting to Moncton/Bathurst. It’s absurd. 13/
Back in 2016, advocates led by the unflappable legal team @nmbarristers sued PEI for failure to provide any abortion care. The Libs recognized they were in the wrong before trial & launched full service abortion care the next yr. The same legal approach won’t work in NB. 14/
The @BlaineHiggs govt is relying on exploiting the gains in access forced by advocates (@ReproJusticeNB) back in 2014 to continue to shut out #Clinic554. It’s petty. Why not take pride in expanding access to essential abortion care? Why not delight in supporting trans health? 15/
Although NS and PEI do not have any clinic-based surgical abortion services, lots of provinces do. Those govts fund their services. Every family doc and NP prescribing Mifegymiso from their private offices is remunerated thru public funds. @BlaineHiggs fund #Clinic554 now! 16/
