PEI Abortion Rights Network

How to Access Abortion Service if You are Living in the Province of Prince Edward Island, Canada

IMPORTANT: Abortion is a time-sensitive medical procedure, and in Atlantic Canada it is only available up until the 16th week of pregnancy. Making an appointment can require several steps. If you are not finding the information you need on this page, or you've come across an obstacle, do not hesitate to contact us. Also check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.

1. Decide where you will go. Your options are:
   1. a hospital, or
   2. a private clinic
   Hospital -- PEI health insurance will cover the costs of the abortion. It will not cover the costs of travel. In PEI, surgical and medical abortions are available without a doctor's referral through the Women's Wellness Program at the Prince County Hospital (PCH) in Summerside.
   The closest off-Island hospital services that are open to women from PEI are at The Moncton Hospital (TMH) in Moncton, NB, and the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, NS. A referral from a PEI doctor is required for services at the QEII, while services at TMH can be accessed through self-referral, or with a doctor's referral. TMH will make appointments for any person with a Canadian health card living in PEI. It is the same process as PEI health care providers.
   
   Private clinic -- You do not need a doctor's referral; simply phone and make an appointment. PEI health insurance will not cover the costs of the abortion at a private clinic, or the travel costs. Blood test and ultrasound will be done at the clinic. If you decide to go to a private clinic, proceed to step 4.
2. Blood test and ultrasound must be done before having a surgical abortion. All procedures related to the abortion are available at the Women's Wellness Program at the PCH. If you are booking an appointment at the QEII hospital, they have to be done on PEI. These tests will be arranged by your referring doctor. You will have to take the test results with you to your appointment.
   
   TMH also accepts blood tests and ultrasounds done on PEI. Results will be faxed to TMH by the referring doctor's office. For self-referrals, your blood test and ultrasound will be performed at TMH.
3. Book your appointment. If you choose a private clinic or self-referral to PCH, or TMH, you need to book the appointment yourself. Be prepared to spend 5 to 10 minutes on the phone, and to answer some medical questions. [See the contact information to the right on this page] If you are referred to a hospital by an Island physician, you will get a call from the hospital with an appointment time.
   
   If you are opting for self-referral to TMH, i.e. arranging your appointment in Moncton without involving a PEI doctor, keep in mind that there are two scenarios:
   1. Have the blood test and ultrasound done in TMH, wait for results, then have the surgical abortion done later that day (assuming ultrasound shows pregnancy that is under 14 weeks). It will take approximately ten hours for the two appointments to take place.
   2. Go to TMH for the ultrasound and blood work, and return to TMH at a later date for the surgical abortion.
4. Find a person who will support you. You need someone to accompany you. Even though an abortion is a minor surgical procedure, it may still be stressful for your body and your mind. It is important that you have someone with you for physical and moral support.
   Possible obstacle: You don't have a partner, a friend or a relative to provide support.
   Solution: Contact us for help.