We are disappointed and devastated to share this news with you all: yesterday, Gosford Private Hospital announced that it will be closing its maternity ward and services!
In an announcement on social media, Gosford Private Maternity Services said this, “Private hospital operator Healthe Care has made the difficult decision to cease maternity services at Gosford Private Hospital at the end of March 2025.”
The reasons given were sadly vague at best: “The decision is a culmination of declining birth rates, decreasing demand for private maternity services on the Central Coast, increasing cost of living pressures, and challenges with private health insurance funding for private hospitals,” Gosford Private’s Facebook post said.
Like many readers, as mums of the Central Coast, we’re feeling completely gutted by this decision.
We’re saddened for the wonderful team of obstetricians and midwives who provide such incredible care to expectant mothers and their babies across the Coast.
We’re frustrated for all of those families who have been paying for top-tier private health cover with the plan to have a baby at Gosford Private – only for that option to be stripped from them.
As one local so beautifully summised, “The closure of Gosford Private maternity ward limits women’s choices regarding where to give birth, undermining their autonomy and rights.
This decision exacerbates the strain on the public healthcare system, which is already overwhelmed. Maintaining access to private maternity care can alleviate pressure on public facilities, ensuring that all women have the option for personalised, timely care. Women deserve the right to choose their birth environment based on their needs and preferences, which is essential for positive birth experiences and outcomes. Preserving Gosford Private is crucial for supporting diverse birthing choices and improving overall healthcare access on the Central Coast.”
Central Coast Obstetricians, who were only told of Healthe Care’s decision on Tuesday afternoon, have expressed their deep disappointment over Healthe Care’s decision.
The team at Intution Private have said, “The closure of the Maternity Unit at Gosford Private severely restricts the choice of private care for expectant mothers, limiting their ability to access a range of high-quality, personalised obstetric services.
Local obstetricians believe this decision undermines patient autonomy and reduces the care options available to women during one of the most important moments of their lives.”
Harriet Blannin-Ferguson (an IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Child Family Health Midwife, and owner of The Breast Help) has started a petition to “Stop the Closure of Gosford Private Hospital’s Maternity Services”. We urge you to sign it: be you a mum-to-be, a grandma, a dad, a dad-to-be, an aunty. Please sign it to show your support for a better outcome for health care on the Central Coast.
In the petition description, Harriet says, “We must protect the rights of mothers in having an array of birthing choices, and preserve the maternity department at Gosford Private. We cannot let financial restrictions determine the quality and availability of maternal health options.”
We urge Gosford Private to share what real changes need to take place to keep this service open and to work with the health specialists, insurance companies and Central Coast community to find a better outcome. There is a better solution: let’s work together to find it.
