Knox Private Hospital maternity ward closure: nurses deliver last baby

After 34 years and countless births it all came down to one last push, with baby Charlie Newbigin’s arrival marking the closure of Knox Private Hospital’s maternity ward.

Charlie was the last baby born at Knox Private Hospital. Jenna and John Newbigin with the newborn and his brother Harry. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Little Charlie Newbigin’s birth was not just important for his parents but also for Knox Private Hospital.

The tiny tot is the last baby to be born at the Wantirna hospital’s maternity ward, which is closing after 34 years.

Last month Knox Leader reported Healthscope will cease obstetric and neonatal services at the hospital by July, to make way for a new emergency department.

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Charlie’s parents Jenna and John Newbigin from Bayswater said they chose to deliver their son at Knox Private Hospital because they loved their last experience having firstborn Harry at the ward in 2014.

“The nurses are just fantastic,” Mr Newbigin said.

Acting nurse unit managers Jan Rule and Narelle Kropp said the hospital’s 35 midwives were all extremely sad to see the birthing unit shutdown.

“It’s the end of a chapter,” Ms Rule said.

“It’s been beautiful bringing all the new life into the world.”

Charlie was the last baby born at Knox Private Hospital. Jenna and John Newbigin with the newborn and his brother Harry. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Ms Kropp said the ward would be closing tomorrow, instead of on June 30, because mums planning to give birth at the hospital decided to move to other hospitals after hearing the maternity ward was closing.

The veteran nurse, who has delivered and cared for babies at the hospital for 17 years, said increasingly fewer mums had chosen to have their children at the hospital because of the hike in private healthcare costs.

“It’s the shift from private to public (hospitals),” she said.

She said the 35 midwives still working at the hospital would have to find new workplaces if they wanted to remain working in midwifery, but many were considering other career paths.

Ms Rule said Eastern Health had offered to help take on the redundant staff.

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