Healthscope plans to close St Helen’s Private Hospital in Hobart next month

There’s been an outpouring of angst over the impending closure of Tasmania’s only mother baby unit. Find out what the government is doing about it.

St Helen's Private Hospital, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

PREMIER Jeremy Rockliff says the government is “working hard” to find a place for a new mother baby unit, amid shock at the impending closure of St Helen's private hospital.

Hospital operator Healthscope announced on Tuesday the hospital could close next month, citing falling demand and the need for major capital works.

The hospital in central Hobart provides inpatient and outpatient services to hundreds to Tasmanians, and is home to the state’s only mother baby unit.

Staff and families involved with the respected mother baby unit have expressed dismay at Healthscope’s announcement.

Hobart general practitioner Tim Jones, who is one of the unit’s admitting doctors, described the closure as “brutal”.

“It’s been a crushing blow and it came as a real surprise. We weren’t aware,” Dr Jones said.

“The unit has always struggled funding-wise, but we didn’t know Healthscope was going to pull out with no notice.”

The mother baby unit at St Helen’s has helped thousands of Tasmanian families.

Dr Jones, along with his wife Marita Jones who is also a GP, have urged the state government to find a space for an interim unit while a permanent public unit remains in the planning phase.

“We have the staff, we have a model, we just need a site,” he said.

Dr Jones said he had written to several health ministers over the years arguing the need for a public mother baby unit.

“It’s not hyperbole to say it can change the trajectory of a family,” he said.

Currently one bed in the eight bed St Helen’s unit is available to public patients, however there are cumbersome admission requirements including a mental health referral via the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Former patient Kirsty Nash said was “horrified” to hear the mother baby unit was closing.

“When I got diagnosed with postnatal depression, because I was in the public system it took me six weeks to get in because there’s only one public bed. Those six weeks gave me an insight into how bad it could be with no support,” she said.

“I can’t praise the mother baby unit highly enough. I was there for three weeks and they were just so kind and knowledgeable and caring and nurturing.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Chris Kidd

Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said planning was well underway on a public mother baby unit, but could not provide details on when the unit would open and where it would be located.

“I am disappointed by the decision of Healthscope to close the St Helens Private Hospital in Hobart as I know how important this service is to Tasmanian families,” Mr Rockliff said.

“As I have already said, the government will step in to ensure mothers still have access to these vital health services. We are working hard on landing this and will provide an update as soon as we can.”

A nurse who works casually in the mental health ward at St Helen’s expressed anger, but says she’s not surprised by the hospital’s closure.

Kathy Flynn said there had been signs Healthscope was intending to jump ship.

“Rooms stopped being repaired. Items stopped being updated. It’s not like this is a sudden decision they have stumbled on or has been forced on them,” she said.

“I feel it’s a reflection of the fact that as a society we’ve allowed our primary responsibilities to be shunted off to private businesses and we shouldn’t be surprised when for-profit businesses close things down when they are not making any profit.”

Ms Flynn disputed there had been a drop in demand, particularly in mental health.

“There were three or four admissions a day, and there were waiting lists,” she said.

Ms Flynn said specialised mental health staff had few options to be redeployed in Hobart.