’Profits before patients’: Sydney hospital slammed for hiring out maternity ward

The controversial Northern Beaches Hospital is putting “profits before patients” by hiring out one of its two maternity wards to film and TV crews rather than accommodate birthing mothers, irate staff claim.

The controversial Northern Beaches Hospital is putting “profits before patients” by hiring out one of its two maternity wards to film and television crews rather than accommodate birthing mothers, irate staff claim.

Last week, management sent staff a list of props that needed to be ready for use by the production company behind Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe’s latest venture, Beast In Me, starring Daniel MacPherson, Luke Hemsworth and Amy Shark.

Overworked staff were less than impressed to be told by management they needed to organise hospital gowns, IV fluids on poles, laundry hampers and a coffee machine.

The list has also raised security and privacy concerns with staff, with requests for five security passes “with access to relevant areas”; a login for systems so mock computer screens can be used and a floor plan and measurements of ward 2C.

The film company also wants the doors between the ward and executive areas to remain open on the day of filming later this month.

Northern Beaches Hospital operates under a public-private partnership. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

There’s no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the film company. However Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said he had “grave concerns” about the hospital generating income from renting out its wards and equipment.

“What next? Will they set up a restaurant in the ward so customers can watch health professionals and patients in a real-life setting,” he said.

“Surely TV and film production companies have access to film sets rather than using an operating hospital as a set and utilising vital equipment as props - and in a health setting under severe pressure.

“Staff morale is low and the auditor general is currently investigating this hospital. They’ve built a shiny facade, but behind the facade it’s not being utilised to its full capacity.

“There’s a big push to free beds up in hospitals - yet here there’s empty wards sitting there. Hospitals are there to treat the sick and improve people’s outcomes - not to outsource to film crews to generate income.”

A staff member, who did not wish to be identified, said the additional maternity ward had stayed mainly closed since the hospital’s opening in late 2018 - however it was increasingly being utilised by production crews.

TV crews used the hospital’s carpark while filming last November. Picture: Supplied

“Ward A, the main maternity ward is extremely busy, and sometimes ward C has been used for overflow but mostly it remains closed,” he said.

“Last year it was used as a set for a TV show on Stan and there’s been other crews accommodated for other projects. Their trucks block the back carpark, reducing access for others, and staff are expected just to work around the distractions.

“Now staff who are already under the pump are running around finding the props for this latest day of filming - it doesn’t sit well with many of us with morale at an all-time low due to ongoing staffing cuts.

“It’s a public maternity ward paid for by taxpayers yet patients are not getting to use it. We’re not in the movie business, we’re in the health business.”

Northern Beaches Hospital is run by Healthscope under a public-private partnership (PPP), providing free public patient services as well as services for private patients - yet has courted controversy since its opening.

An independent audit is investigating whether the hospital is efficiently and effectively delivering public hospital services, with the NSW Auditor General expected to table the findings in June. However a submission from the doctors’ union, ASMOF, also outlined concerns over “critical understaffing” and chronic bed block due to overcrowded wards.

Amber Blair gave birth at the hospital last July - she had a good experience however she said she noticed staff were stretched and said she was “appalled” that the additional maternity ward was being used for filming.

Brookvale resident Amber Blair with her seven-month-old daughter Maddison. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The ward I was in was very busy - I had a fairly good experience but did have to wait around an hour one night for a staff member to assist me with feeding my daughter - they were so understaffed.

“I think a hospital should be using every space they have for the patients who need it the most, especially with maternity wards - babies don’t always wait until a bed is free.”

More than 1300 babies were born to public patients at the hospital in the 2023-24 financial year according to Bureau of Health Information data.

The hospital performs well overall in terms of timeliness of treatment, however wait times in the emergency department are getting longer, and the average length of stay is 4.9 nights, less than the state average of 6.2.

In the last quarter where figures are publicly available - July to September last year - 343 babies were born, a five per cent rise on the same period the previous year, compared to a one per cent dip in births at public hospitals statewide.

However a hospital spokesman said the decision to consolidate maternity beds into ward 2A was made “due to lower birth numbers and to provide the right skills and staffing mix to ensure our patients receive the best possible care”.

“Ward 2C is used as required for maternity or other overnight patients during busy periods,” the spokesman said.

“Filming requests are only granted where they can be accommodated with no disruption to patient care, patient privacy or hospital operations.

“The upcoming filming will see a film crew on site for one day. There will be no impact on staff parking access as a result of filming. Any staff involvement with the film crew or filming will be minimal and entirely voluntary.”

The previous Liberal state government entered into a public-private partnership with Healthscope, which is responsible for the management of the hospital so long as it meets safety requirements.

A spokesman for Health Minister Ryan Park said: “The Minister has sought advice from HealthScope on the matter”.

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Originally published as ’Profits before patients’: Sydney hospital slammed for hiring out maternity ward