Private hospitals across Hunter ready to help in coronavirus crisis to ensure their ‘survival’

A deal brokered between the Federal Government, states and private sector will work to ensure the survival of private hospitals across the Hunter.

Newcastle Private Hospital. Google street view.

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A deal brokered between the Federal Government, states and private sector will work to ensure the survival of private hospitals across the Hunter.

Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that all public and private elective surgery, apart from the most urgent cases, would be suspended in the COVID-19 crisis to ensure hospitals could conserve resources and staff for expected coronavirus cases.

For a lot of private operators elective surgery is their main form of income which brings further challenges to keep businesses running.

But the “integrated partnership” is set to save struggling private hospitals and thousands of health jobs amid the pandemic, as they transition to lend their support during COVID-19 times and beyond.

Lingard Private Hospital Merewether. Google street view.

Healthe Care which owns Lingard private at Merewether, Maitland private and Toronto private confirmed it is ready to help the public health system during the COVID-19 crisis.

Healthe Care CEO, Steve Atkins said it’s challenging times for everyone and they have had to adjust their business.

“We’re reassured that government has listened to us, and has confirmed the private hospital sector’s critical role in supporting Australia's health sector combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“Our staff are critical to our private hospitals and will be critical support for the overall health sector under this federal plan.

“The costs associated with operating a hospital, along with the cessation of elective surgery brings further challenges for us as a private hospital group and the entire private hospital industry.

“But we are working hard to keep on providing healthcare to communities through business as usual and in response to the crisis.

Toronto Private Hospital. Google street view.

Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, Gateshead. Google street view.

“We remain ready and willing to help our country as best we can in this time of significant community need, and believe that our doctors, nurses, staff and hospitals have a significant role to play in assisting the public sector and our community to combat the far-reaching effect of COVID-19.”

Chief executive officer of Lake Macquarie Private Hospital and Warners Bay Private Hospital said they’re in government talks about the support they can provide to the community in Newcastle and the Hunter amid the outbreak.

“Our major goal in these discussions is not only to ensure that staffing in our hospitals is maintained in this period, when we are unable to undertake non-urgent elective surgery, but also to make available our resources and capacity to assist with the impact of COVID-19 in the coming weeks and months,” she said.

Maitland Private Hospital, Ashtonfield. Google street view.

“We are focusing on ensuring we are ready to play our part in addressing the effects of this virus in Australia.

“We are aware that other private hospital groups have stood down staff. Ramsay Health Care is doing everything we can to keep our workforce going through this time.”

Danny Sims, CEO of Ramsay Health Care Australia further added it is urgently finalising agreements with State Governments to ensure the capacity and resources of the private hospital sector, including nurses, beds and equipment, can be appropriately utilised.

“While we face the unknown in terms of the extent of the impact of this virus, it is vital that all health providers work together, as one health system, to deliver the best care and treatment to patients within our communities,” he said.

“Our teams in Australia are willing to do whatever we can to support the Commonwealth and the state in this time of need.”