A religious organisation with origins in the United States has announced plans to set up a prayer vigil outside a Perth abortion clinic during Lent.

Joanne Cicchini, group coordinator of 40 Days For Life, told 720 ABC Perth that its members would be outside the Midland clinic, in Perth's eastern suburbs, from 7:00am until 5:00pm for 40 days from February 10.

"A small group of us prayed about this and wanted to bring 40 Days For Life to Perth," Ms Cicchini told Geoff Hutchison.

"It happens once a year and we are just praying for the conversion of hearts and spirits that people might change their mind about having an abortion."

Ms Cicchini said the group would not be harassing or shaming women when they entered the clinic.

"I wear a t-shirt and have signs that say what help we can offer," she said.

"Even if a person's perception is that we are there to judge or abuse, I want to make it clear that we are just there to offer to help."

Ms Cicchini said her group offered financial support, parenting courses, baby equipment and emergency accommodation to women who wanted help continuing their pregnancies.

"If they don't want my help, then they are exposed to me for literally 30 seconds," she said.

"I don't see why it is offensive to actually offer women help. We are not trying to harm them at all."

'Shaming' practice

Talkback caller Robyn said she had seen the group in action in Midland and believed their actions did distress clinic patients.

"I used to work directly opposite this clinic and we witnessed these people standing out the front of the clinic on a regular basis, singing and sitting there," Robyn said.

"Our perspective after observing these people for a considerable amount of time was that their objective was to shame these poor women and families who were going in there.

"They weren't just sitting there nicely under a tree with a sign saying 'we can help you'."

Another listener said via SMS: "I have had a termination at that Midland clinic and believe me, it was the absolute hardest decision I've ever made in my life."

"I was 100 per cent sure of my decision before I made the appointment after much soul searching and impartial counselling.

"Having people 'offer help' wouldn't have changed my mind, since it was not a decision made lightly but would have traumatised us greatly."

Separate clinic for Midland

Abortion services in the Midland area are not provided at the local Midland public hospital, which has been operated by St John of God Health since it opened late last year.

The Catholic healthcare provider refuses to offer pregnancy terminations or contraception services because of its religious values.

In February 2015 the State Government announced it would pay Marie Stopes International, which already runs a private clinic in Midland, $500,000 a year to perform the procedures on public patients.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the Government had also spent $1.2 million upgrading the Marie Stopes facility to ensure it met hospital standards.

Governments in Victoria and the ACT have recently introduced laws to create buffer zones around clinics, making it illegal for anti-abortion protesters to harass or film women going in or coming out of the clinics.