Private Hospital operators Healthscope today announced the closures of maternity services at both Darwin Private Hospital in April and Hobart Private Hospital later this year.
In Hobart, workforce challenges were cited as the reason for the closure, with an inability to recruit new appropriately qualified midwives to work in the maternity ward.
In Darwin, it was a declining private birth rate over the last decade, from 700 to 300 births per year, that was identified as the reason for the closure.
The Australian College of Midwives Chief Midwife Alison Weatherstone said this was a very disappointing outcome that will leave many women and families in the lurch. “Any closure of maternity services has an unwanted and significant impact on the local community and existing public hospital services.”
“Women are still having babies. That hasn’t changed. This will simply reduce choice and access for women at a time when we are fighting hard to maintain it.”
“But it’s also hard not to see this as a strike against the private maternity system where intervention including caesarean section is typically much higher.”
“Closures show that women are voting with their feet. Fewer women are choosing private maternity care and fewer midwives are choosing to work in this model of care. Women should have access to maternity care of their choice in private maternity hospitals, including midwife-led care.”