North-West public birthing services have been provided in the private system

The state government is speeding up delivery of public maternity services in the North-West, following safety concerns about the private hospital.

North West Regional Hospital.

Maternity services in the North-West will begin operating in Burnie’s public hospital from December, as the government works to address the “unsafe” public service at the private hospital.

In February the Australian Medical Association (AMA) raised the alarm about North-West Private Hospital public maternity services, saying they were no longer safe.

The AMA said a staff exodus from the private hospital meant women in labour were being turned away. It called for services to be immediately transferred to the North-West Regional Hospital.

Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the transition to North-West Regional was being brought forward to December – 11 months ahead of schedule.

“I want to thank the North West Private Hospital and its owners, Healthe Care, for working with us to ensure that we can achieve an early transition and give certainty to patients and staff, and for their ongoing commitment to continue to deliver services over the coming months,” Mr Rockliff said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff during a media event at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Monday, February 27, 2023.

The NWPH now employs the birthing suite and maternity staff and provides space for this service.

During the transition, the Department of Health will lease space at the NWPH to deliver services within its current facility.

Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said while the Premier’s announcement was welcome, maternity services on the North-West Coast should never have reached the point where they were deemed unsafe.

“Premier Rockliff and his government have made an art form of making announcements to get media heat off them and then not delivering. This is a government that doesn’t follow through with its commitments with the debacle of stage two of the LGH a classic example,” Ms Dow said.

Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the state government must end its reliance on the private system to provide essential health services.

“Private hospital operators are focused on profits not patients – and this makes a real difference in ensuring long term, reliable, and safe care,” Dr Woodruff said.

“This is playing out again now with the closure of St Helen’s mental health facility in Hobart – with the state’s only Mother Baby Unit and specialist critical services.”

Originally published as North-West public birthing services have been provided in the private system