Alarm bells are sounding in Australia’s medical sector as Healthscope, the sole national private healthcare provider, announces the cessation of maternity services at its hospitals in Darwin and Hobart. This decision, effective April 17 in Darwin and August 20 in Hobart, is attributed to a significant drop in private birth rates, plummeting from 700 births in 2013 to under 300 in 2024. The elimination of services in Darwin, the only private maternity option in the area, forces expectant parents to seek maternity care elsewhere.
The closures will leave Tasmania with just one remaining private maternity unit, raising concerns over the stability of the private health system. Dr Danielle McMullen, president of the Australian Medical Association, emphasised the critical need for maternity services, arguing that individuals with private health insurance deserve reliable access to necessary care.
McMullen warned that past closures have created strain on public maternity services and stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the private health sector. She highlighted that the AMA has requested a review from the Private Health CEO Forum to encourage steady, long-term improvements, rather than ongoing crises. Healthscope operates 38 hospitals nationally and employs over 18,000 staff, expressing regret over the necessity of these service terminations.