Maternity services will end at Gosford Private Hospital in March due to rising costs and falling demand on the Central Coast . Login or signup to continue reading Private hospital operator Healthe Care announced the move on Wednesday, saying "cost of living pressures" were a factor. The rising cost of fees charged by obstetricians has also been raised as an issue.
Another factor was private hospitals receiving what they consider to be inadequate payments from private health insurers. Healthe Care said eight other private maternity services had closed across the nation in the past 18 months. Gosford Private had provided private maternity services for more than 30 years.
But in the past decade, there had been "a steady decline in the number of local families choosing to have their birth privately". Births had fallen by almost 40 per cent at the hospital during that time and there were forecasts for fewer private births in the years to come. "We have now reached the point where it is no longer sustainable for us to continue to operate this service," Gosford Private Hospital CEO Stephen Johnston said.
"We are very aware of the impact this decision will have on the local community and expecting families in particular." Families who were booked to give birth at the hospital will "be supported until the end of March 2025". "We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of obstetricians and a strong public maternity service locally," he said.
The company was working with Central Coast He.
