Northern Beaches Hospital inquiry to go ahead

An inquiry into Northern Beaches Hospital could see witnesses compelled to give evidence and documents subpoenaed, after concerns it was operating under a ‘cloak of secrecy’.

An external shot of the Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: (AAP IMAGE)

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A parliamentary inquiry will shine a spotlight on the workings of the new privately-run Northern Beaches Hospital.

A motion was put forward by NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord on Thursday to set up a formal inquiry into the privatised Northern Beaches Hospital.

It was approved by the NSW Legislative Council and will be conducted by the NSW Legislative Council’s Portfolio Committee No. 2 — Health.

Shadow Minister The Hon. Walt Secord. Picture: Carmela Roche.

Mr Secord said the committee would have the power to compel witnesses from the private operator Healthscope to give evidence.

It would also be able to subpoena documents.

“It’s a big deal,” Mr Secord said.

“It will shine the biggest spotlight on the hospital for the first time.”

In the Legistlative Council Chamber on Wednesday Upper House Liberal MP and Government Whip Natasha Maclaren-Jones said every new hospital had its challenges when settling in and that the motion did “nothing to support people that worked there”.

CMO of Healthscope Victoria Atkinson. Picture: Supplied.

She said that all Labor had done since the hospital had opened was to diminish staff and the model of care.

The Frenchs Forest hospital opened in late-October last year with private operator Healthscope assigned to run it.

Earlier this year it was announced Healthscope had agreed to a $4.4 billion takeover by Canadian investment firm Brookfield.

Upper House MP Cate Faehrmann from The Greens said the community had shared their concerns with her over the new hospital and the loss of emergency services at Mona Vale Hospital.

She said she would be supporting the inquiry.

“Such an inquiry will enable greater transparency around the contracts,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, before the vote, Mr Secord outlined the reasons why he was pushing for an inquiry.

Gladys Berejiklian Campaignwith Wakehurst MP and Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

“This is about lifting the cloak of secrecy surrounding the Northern Beaches Hospital,” Mr Secord said.

He said the Berejiklian Government had exempted the Northern Beaches Hospital from the Auditor-General’s examination due to its status as a private-public partnership (PPP).

The NSW Government provided $600 million to construct the hospital and is expected to provide a further $2.14 billion to their private operators over the life of the contract which is until 2038.

There were a series of issues on opening, including a lack of medical supplies, not enough staff to cope with demand and a number of senior resignations.

“The privatised Northern Beaches Hospital must be subject to the same scrutiny and held to the same standards as all other NSW public hospitals,” Mr Secord said.

Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest on Tuesday, June 4. The front of the Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest. (AAP IMAGE)

The motion reads that the committee inquire into and report on:

•The operation and management of the Northern Beaches Hospital

•The contract and other arrangements establishing the hospital

•Changes to the contract and other arrangements since the opening of the hospital

•On-going arrangements for the operation and maintenance of the hospital

•Standards of service provision and care at the hospital, staffing arrangements and staffing changes at the hospital

•The impact of the hospital on surrounding communities and health facilities, particularly Mona Vale Hospital, Manly Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital

•The merits of public-private partnership arrangements for the provision of health care

A spokesman for Healthscope said the community had access to a greater level of public health services than were previously offered.

“Since opening, more than 36,000 patients have presented to our Emergency Department. Over 8,600 of these presentations have come via ambulance,” he said.

“Our operating theatres have completed more than 8,000 surgical procedures, and we have already delivered over 1,000 babies.

“Northern Beaches Hospital will continue to strengthen, grow and provide quality healthcare services for our local community. We are proud of our amazing people who continue to focus on what matters most to our patients, providing high quality clinical outcomes and exceptional patient care.”