Knox Private Hospital fast tracks maternity unit closure, stranding expectant mums

Dozens of expectant mums have been left with nowhere to give birth after one of Melbourne’s biggest private hospitals fast tracked the closure of its maternity services.

Knox Private Hospital in Wantirna will be closing its maternity ward in January.

Dozens of expectant mums have been left with nowhere to give birth after one of Melbourne’s biggest private hospitals fast tracked the closure of its maternity services.

Knox Private Hospital has today stunned families booked in to give birth by suddenly deciding to close its maternity unit in January.

Late today Healthscope, which operates Knox Private Hospital, confirmed it would leave it to the families and their obstetricians to find an alternative hospital.

KNOX PRIVATE HOSPITAL TO CLOSE DOWN MATERNITY UNIT

An average of 1.3 babies are born at the Wantirna hospital each day, and closing five months early will have a significant impact on many families.

The action came just 24 hours after Knox Private Hospital general manager Jenny Kent announced it would close its maternity and obstetrics unit in July, but promised those patients already booked for a birth in the coming months that they would still receive care as normal.

But after inquiries by the Herald Sun today, Healthscope spokes­woman Sonya Gjorgiev said it had “unfortunately” decided to close the Knox maternity services earlier than originally anticipated due to an unexpected exodus of staff.

“There have been a significant number of staff resignations after our original announcement to close (the) maternity service in July 2019, which has led to the difficult decision to close maternity services earlier than expected,” she said.

Knox Private Hospital in Wantirna will be closing its maternity ward in January.

“We regret the inconvenience that some patients may face as result of the closure.

“The decision in relation to the arrangement of alternative services is one that will need to be made between the patient and their obstetrician.”

A decline in births at the hospital has resulted in it changing its focus and cutting the maternity service to allow for an expansion and new emergency department.

A caller told radio station 3AW his wife was due to give birth at Knox Private in 10 weeks, but had just been informed the maternity and obstetrics services would be closed.

A screenshot of Knox Private Hospital's maternity services information, taken this morning before reports the hospital was closing its maternity services. The information was removed after inquiries from the Herald Sun to the hospital's owners, Healthscope.

The closest alternatives to the Wantirna facility for expectant mothers are the Angliss Hospital in Ferntree Gully and Mitcham Private Hospital.

Speaking to the Knox Leader on Monday, Ms Kent said 130 fewer babies were born over a 12-month period and the Knox maternity unit was averaging 1.3 births a day, making it impossible to maintain.

But she said the hospital was giving a long notice period until July minimise disruption: “Patients have been reassured, that if they are booked to have their baby at Knox during this period it will be all care as normal for this very special time”.

[e-mail]