Healthscope Closes Maternity Wards in Hobart, Darwin

Healthscope announced it will close maternity services at Hobart Private Hospital on August 20, citing workforce challenges and declining birth rates as primary factors. This decision has been met with significant concern from health officials and advocacy groups, who argue it will exacerbate existing pressures on Tasmania's already strained public maternity services. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation criticized the move, alleging that Healthscope prioritized profits over patient care, with women and babies suffering the most from reduced options. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie described the closure as a 'dreadful turn of events' and called for the Tasmanian government to reassess its reliance on private health services. Healthscope's recruitment efforts for qualified midwives have been unsuccessful, leading to the conclusion that maintaining a reliable maternity service had become unviable. The situation has prompted calls for government intervention to ensure adequate maternity care for Tasmanian women.