Northern Beaches Hospital will keep its private services running until at least mid-2027, Health Minister Ryan Park has confirmed.
The guarantee covers the interim period after the hospital’s formal handover to NSW Health on 29 April, ending a controversial public-private partnership with collapsed operator Healthscope.
All 494 beds will return to full public ownership, with clinical and support staff offered jobs with NSW Health and leave entitlements transferring across from Healthscope. An independent adviser, David Swan, has been appointed to recommend options for the long-term future of private services at the site, with his report due next month.
We have queries with the minister et al regarding how services such as the private maternity wing will continue operating if all beds are public, and will update soon.
The government has flagged a co-located private model, common at other Sydney public hospitals, as the likely long-term direction, though the details are yet to be finalised.
The arrangement was made possible in part by federal government support, with Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps claiming her advocacy helped the interim arrangement to receive Commonwealth approval.
The agreement was confirmed in letters sent to local MPs Michael Regan and Jacqui Scruby on the weekend.
Asked whether the move could be best described as the federal government buying time for the state to work out how or whether private services continue on the site, Mr Regan said it was “definitely a matter of how, not whether.”
“This is big news. This means patients will continue to be able to use their private health insurance at the hospital.”
“This is big news. This means patients will continue to be able to use their private health insurance at the hospital, with their doctor of choice and at a time that suits them. There is now no barrier to booking private surgeries beyond April.”
A group representing the private clinicians at the hospital, the Northern Beaches Clinicians Alliance (NBCA), welcomed the confirmation, describing it as an important and hard-won step in protecting local healthcare.
“From the outset, we have been clear that removing or destabilising private services would weaken the hospital’s overall capacity,” said NBCA spokesperson Dr David Dickison. “Today’s announcement acknowledges that the co-located model plays a critical role in keeping care local.”
Dr Dickison said the NBCA would now focus on securing a longer-term solution. “This is the beginning of the next stage of ensuring that Northern Beaches residents retain access to the full range of services they rely on.”
The government also recently announced the hospital will host the state’s first High Volume Surgery Hub, adding up to 5,000 surgeries per year to help reduce waitlists across NSW.
Ms Scruby said she was disappointed the private services announcement “wasn’t prioritised above the Surgery Hub – however I do appreciate it’s extra-ordinary for a publicly run hospital to be given this exemption from the federal Health Minister.
“Focus will now be on the long term and I will be maintaining pressure on the NSW Government to engage a private operator for a co-located private hospital.”
